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• Attend my Virtual Budget Town Hall March 12
• Including Gerry Connolly in the Oakton Library Name
• Scam Alert: Fake Unpaid Toll Notice
• In the Community
• Free Brain Health Workbook
• A Conversation with Kate Hanley
• Upcoming Land Use Meetings
• Faith Communities Networking Event March 17
• What's News in Vienna
• Events and Activities

Join me for my virtual budget town hall this Thursday, March 12 at 7 p.m. I want to hear your thoughts and feedback on the county executive’s proposed FY 2027 budget.

To participate:

• Join on Microsoft Teams using this link. (Meeting ID: 238 505 482 254 79; Passcode: aQ6GC7oi)
• Or participate by phone: 571-429-5982 (Conference ID: 113 430 076#). 

I also encourage you to attend my in-person budget town hall on March 16 at Louise Archer Elementary School in Vienna.

Or, please tell me what you think by emailing my office or calling 703-478-0283, TTY 711.

Most of you probably remember the late Gerry Connolly as our member of Congress until he passed away last year. Some of you will also remember Gerry’s service as Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors from 2004 – 2008. And a few of you may even remember when Gerry served as a lowly district Supervisor from the Providence District from 1995 – 2008. It is for his service as Providence District Supervisor that his name is being considered for being added to the Oakton Library located just outside Hunter Mill District.  

Tonight, the Fairfax County Library Board of Trustees will meet to consider whether to rename the Oakton Library as the Oakton-Connolly Library or some variation. Similar to the move to add Supervisor Cathy Hudgins to name of the community center at Southgate in Reston, and the decision by the Library Board in 2024 to include the Carter family name to the Vienna-Carter Library, this proposed name change is intended to honor those whose role was foundational to that specific facility and public service.

There is some interesting history regarding the siting of this library and then-Supervisor Connolly that Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk and I wrote up over the weekend (see the link below).

Scam Alert: Fake Unpaid Toll Notice. Don’t Be Fooled by This Bogus Court Notice

What’s happening: Did you get a text message with a Fairfax County court notice that says you must show up for a hearing for unpaid tolls? Don’t be fooled: it’s just the latest twist on the unpaid toll scam that many people received last year.

Last week, fraudsters sent out a mass text message with this fake notice from the Fairfax County General District Court. It’s titled “Notice of Hearing — Toll Violation.” (See the photo on the right.)

What to do: Ignore this bogus text message and court notice — don’t scan the QR code on the fake notice to “pay” for your allegedly missed toll.

Consider forwarding this scam text to your wireless carrier. Forward it to “7726” (SPAM) to help your cell phone provider spot and block these messages in the future. Follow these instructions for:

• iPhone
• Android

Also follow these tips to avoid QR code scams.

Watch this video on other actions you can take to stop spam/scam texts. 

What else to know: Here's some other important information to know about E-Z Pass Virginia to help you avoid scams:


• E-Z Pass Virginia will never text you about unpaid tolls. These notices are sent by mail.
• E-Z Pass Virginia will only text you if you have signed up for account balance notifications.
• Legitimate EZ-Pass TXT/SMS message will come from (844) 548-0707 or (844) 718-2368.
• You may log into your EZ-Pass account to verify your account balance and transaction activity. Or call their customer service number at 1-877-762-7824 on Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.  to 7 p.m.

Read Across America Day at Aldrin Elementary

I had a wonderful time celebrating Read Across America Day with the incredible students at Aldrin Elementary.

I shared the story of "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" — the true account of William Kamkwamba. At just 14 years old, William used books he read in his local library and scrap parts to build a windmill that saved the residents in his village from drought.

What’s happening: Get a free brain health workbook with simple exercises that take only 30 minutes a day. The digital workbooks are available at no cost in multiple languages, thanks to a collaboration between Fairfax County’s SHAPE the Future of Aging Plan and Goodwin Living™. Print copies may be ordered for $17.50 each.

Why it matters:  Research shows that individuals who follow the StrongerMemory℠ program have shown measurable improvements in cognitive function, emotional well-being and social engagement. Participants can see cognitive improvements in just 30 days.

The workbooks can help older adults engage their brains through reading aloud, writing by hand and completing basic math exercises to stimulate the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for decision-making and recall.

These workbooks can help anyone who wants to keep their mind sharp or engage with loved ones who are experiencing early memory changes, including mild cognitive impairment, early dementia symptoms or normal age-related memory concerns.

Tell me more: The workbooks are being used by Fairfax County senior centers and more than 300 partner organizations. SHAPE the Future of Aging Personal Well-Being Committee members — including Jessica Fredericksen, Senior Director of Brain Health for Goodwin Living, and StrongerMemory Outreach Coordinator Theresa Mandela — led the effort to introduce them in senior centers.

The initiative to translate the workbooks advances the SHAPE Plan’s Personal Well-Being Goal. This strategic plan aims to make the county a better place to age by improving services, accessibility and inclusion for all those living with mild cognitive decline. The SHAPE Plan was adopted by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 2023.

In celebration of Women's History Month, join a conversation with former Board of Supervisors Chairman Kate Hanley on Sunday, March 22 at 3 p.m. at Centreville Regional Library.

She will reflect on her life in public service and the lessons she’s learned along the way. Drawing from her experience in a wide range of leadership roles, she will discuss the challenges she faced and how she navigated them. She’ll also share her perspectives on women in politics and the vital role women’s voices play in strengthening good government and society as a whole.

This program is cosponsored by the League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan, grassroots organization focused on voting rights.

Reston Planning & Zoning March 16

Join this virtual meeting on Monday, March 16 at 7 p.m. Click here to join. To attend by phone, dial 571-429-5982 and enter meeting ID 693 626 456#

Agenda:

• 1950 Roland Clarke Place SSPA
• RZ-2025-HM-00018: Old Reston Associates, LLC

Canceled: Hunter Mill Land Use Committee March 17

This previously scheduled meeting for March 17 at 7:30 p.m. has been canceled because there are no applications to review. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be Tuesday, April 21.

Questions? Comments? Email Mark Goldberg-Foss or call 703-478-5123.

Faith Communities in Action Networking Event March 17

Attend the Faith Communities in Action networking event on Tuesday, March 17 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Christ The Servant Lutheran Church, 2320 Hunters Woods Plaza, Reston. The meeting will feature Fairfax County Deputy County Executive Chris Leonard.

Attend to learn how health, housing, and human services work together to support our residents and how your faith community can get involved! 

Vienna Photo Show March 14-15

The Vienna Photo Show will be held from March 14-15 at the Vienna Community Center. Attend to see great photography or enter your photos. Entries will be accepted from March 12-13. Ribbons for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and honorable mention will be awarded across eight categories: animal, nature, digital art, scenic, architecture, photojournalism, portraiture, and a brand new patriotic category celebrating our nation’s 250th anniversary. Visit the photo show webpage for entry instructions and more.

Vienna Names New Deputy Police Chief

The town has named David Huchler as its new deputy police chief, following a nationwide search. His service will begin on April 6.

He brings 34 years of law enforcement experience to his new role. Previously, Huchler served with the Alexandria Police Department and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department. He retired as Deputy Chief of the Alexandria Police Department in April 2018 to accept the position of Chief of Police with the MWAA Police Department, where he served until January 2026.

Town Council to Consider FY 27 Budget Starting March 14

This Saturday, March 14, the Vienna Town Council will begin deliberating on the town manager’s FY 2026-27 proposed budget. The council will hold two work sessions (March 14 and 16) to review the proposed budget plan and make revisions in its discretion.

Work sessions are open to the public, although no public comment is permitted. The public will have an opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed final plan during a public hearing. 

‍🍫Experience the Hershey Super Sweet Adventure at Tysons Corner Center.

🤣Laugh with the region’s hottest improv troupes at Improvicon 2026 on March 13 at Herndon High School.

🩸Learn how to “Stop the Bleed” on March 13 at Reston Hospital Center.

🐶Turn your favorite pet photo into a painting on March 13 at Arts of Great Falls.

📷Visit the Vienna Photo Show on March 14-15 at the Vienna Community Center.

📚Find your next read at the Hunters Woods Elementary School PTA’s Used Book Sale on March 14.

🎭Watch “Abigail: Founding Mother” on March 14 at Historic Blenheim in Fairfax.

🔭Sungaze on March 14 at the Udvar-Hazy Center.

🥧Celebrate Pi Day on March 14 at these bakeries and restaurants including ones in Hunter Mill District.

🇺🇸 Visit the Patriot’s Path: A Revolutionary War Encampment starting March 14 at Mount Vernon.

📼Learn how to digitize your VHS tapes, audiocassettes and more on March 14 at the Reston Regional Library.

🏀Watch March Madness starting March 15 at Shipgarten in Tysons.

🐦Join a Bird Walk on March 15 at Browns Chapel Park.

💃Watch Chinese dance drama “The Winds Beyond Chang’An” on March 15 at Capital One Hall.

👩🏽‍⚕️Join a seminar on becoming a veterinarian on March 15 at MeowTown.

☘️Enjoy the annual St. Patrick's Day Pub Bash on March 17 at The Old Brogue in Great Falls.

🎶Listen to Celtic Woman’s newest performance “A New Era” on March 18 at Capital One Hall.

🏢Attend the Women in Technology’s Spring 2026 Job Fair on March 19 at the Carahsoft Center in Reston.

🍷Attend the St. Patrick's Day Wine & Comedy Night on March 20 at The Winery at Bull Run.

🎭Watch “TINA − The Tina Turner Musical” from March 20-22 at Capital One Hall.

🚗Take the CarFit class on March 21 to learn how to enhance your comfort, safety and fit in your vehicle.

👩Learn about Women’s Work in the 19^th Century on March 21 at Colvin Run Mill.

🎞️Watch “Downton Abbey: Grand Finale” on Senior Movie Day on March 25 at Reston Town Center.

🍸Join the Tysons Community Gathering on March 26 at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse.

🎭Watch “Guards at the Taj” starting March 26 at NextStop Theatre.

👩Join a Women’s History Month Reception on March 26 at the Tower Club.

🍽️Attend the BreadBreakers community dinner on March 26 at Reston Community Center. 

🎭Reston Community Players present “What the Constitution Means to Me” on March 26-28 at Reston Community Center.

📖Cassandra Good discusses her book “First Family: George Washington’s Heirs And The Making Of America” on March 29 at the Vienna Police Station.

🎵Travel to the “Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey” on March 29 at George Mason University Center for the Arts.

🎭Watch the play “All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg” on April 5 at Capital One Hall.

🥚Join the Easter Egg Hunt on April 5 at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church in Reston.

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