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May 28, 2025

Neighbors,

Last week, the Board of Supervisors and the Vienna Town Council met jointly for the first time since before the pandemic. I chair the Board’s interjurisdictional committee with the town, and Chairman Jeff McKay, Dranesville Supervisor Jimmy Bierman and I met with Vienna Mayor Linda Colbert and the Vienna Town Council.

I want to thank Mayor Colbert and Councilmembers Allen, Anderson, Baldwin, Brill, Ramakis and Springsteen for hosting us at the town’s council chambers.

It was a productive meeting where we discussed issues and projects affecting both the county and town, including the trees clear cut along the W&OD Trail and the new Vienna-Carter Library.

As many know from seeing it yourself or from news coverage, earlier this spring Dominion indiscriminately clear cut trees on its easement along a four-mile stretch of the W&OD Trail from Dunn Loring to Vienna. At the meeting, however, NOVA Parks announced some very positive news. Just a day before our meeting, Dominion Energy agreed to develop a new memorandum of understanding with NOVA Parks to manage vegetation and trees along the trail. The utility also said they’re willing to replant in the areas they cleared.

This progress is thanks to NOVA Parks and the united opposition from the town, Fairfax County, and Arlington and Loudoun Counties. (Watch my remarks.)

While NOVA Parks has been in discussions with Dominion on an MOU for some time, agreement on specific details is still pending. So, there’s more work ahead, but I’m pleased to hear that things are headed in the right direction.

At the meeting, we also received an update on the construction for the future Vienna-Carter Library. This newest branch in the Fairfax County Public Library system. The project is ready to move to construction, according to county staff which will evaluate bids from builders in June. Construction is anticipated to take two years, but in the meantime, a temporary branch will open in June at the Cedar Park Shopping Center.

Stay tuned for more details on both these issues, and I look forward to the next meeting with the town.

Regards,

Walter

• Cathy Hudgins Memorial Service
• In the Community
• Switch to Solar This Summer
• Affordable Housing Waitlist Opens June 2
• Vienna Arts Society Paintings
• Invasives Spotlight
• What's News in Vienna
• Events and Activities

The visitation and funeral service for Cathy Hudgins will be held on Friday, June 6 at Saint Thomas à Becket Catholic Church, 1421 Wiehle Avenue Reston. The visitation is scheduled for 10 a.m. while the service begins at 11 a.m., followed by a reception at the church.

Cathy dedicated her life to others, and was a tireless champion of the most vulnerable and for actively listening to those whose voices are rarely heard. As her successor on the Board, I am honored to further her efforts on affordable housing, human services, and equity for all.

In the Community

With summer unofficially kicking off this week, get ready to turn down the air conditioning as warmer than average temperatures are predicted. So why not let the sun pay your AC bills?

Fairfax County is making it easy to switch to solar through two group buying programs: Switch Together and Solarize Virginia.

Both programs offer:

• A free assessment to find out whether your home is a good candidate for solar installation.
• Bulk discounts on solar systems, at least 10% lower than the regional average.
• Access to a qualified solar installer, ongoing support and no obligation to purchase.

Register by June 4 for Switch Together or by July 15 for Solarize Fairfax.

Watch this video (below) to hear from county residents who've made the switch to solar.

The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority will accept waitlist applications for six privately and county-owned rental properties from Monday, June 2 through Sunday, June 8. The county provides rental assistance to eligible households through its Project Based Voucher program, and the one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments that are currently available on the waitlist are located in Reston, Centreville, Herndon, Falls Church and Alexandria. Three properties in Reston have limited availability:

• Shadowood
• Reston Town Center Townhouses
• West Glade

While Reston is rich with arts on display at both public and private venues, you may not know about an art gallery that’s hidden in plain sight: the North County Governmental Center. In addition to being the location for my office and the Reston District Police Station, the building is a showcase for paintings and photos for artists with the Vienna Arts Society.

Come check out what’s on display, and everything is for sale too. Art works are changed every two months, so there’s always something new to see (like the artworks pictured above.)

Nandina — more commonly called heavenly or sacred bamboo — is a flowering shrub that’s popular for its hardiness and beauty.

You may have seen it around your neighborhood — but don’t let this looker fool you. It’s not heavenly — it’s deadly.

Nandina is an invasive plant that the state has listed as a threat to Virginia’s ecosystem, says the Fairfax Invasive Removal Alliance. Its red berries are extremely toxic to birds and mammals when they eat them in late winter when other food sources are scarce. Fortunately, there are many beautiful native alternatives you can plant instead.

What's News in Vienna

Quarterly Recycling Day Is June 7

Town residents can drop off scrap metal, electronics (no TVs or computer monitors), and auto waste for recycling at the Northside Property Yard, 600 Mill Street, NE on Saturday, June 7, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can also drop off one-time use and rechargeable batteries. 

Summer on the Green Concerts Return June 6

Mark your calendar for this year’s first Summer on the Green concert. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and come to the Town Green on Friday, June 6 at 6:30 p.m. and rock out as 2nd Sole performs! This free concert series, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Vienna (yes, that’s the same group that does ViVa! Vienna!), takes place on select Fridays through mid-August at 6:30 p.m. Alcohol and pets are not allowed.

🏊🏾‍♀️Take a splash at the Water Mine which will be open on weekends starting May 31.

🛶 Take a sunset canoe or kayak paddle on Lake Anne with a naturalist on May 29.

🎷 Listen to world-renowned jazz saxophonist Jeff Antoniuk on May 30 with this Darden and Friends concert at Reston Town Center.

🎶 Rock out to Pat Benatar tribute band All Fired Up on May 30 at Reston Station.

🎸 Listen to Everything play some of their Billboard top-10 hits on May 31 at the Reston Town Center Pavillion.

💃Take a bus trip to see “Chicago” at Capital One Hall on June 1.

🏳️‍🌈 Attend the Reston Pride Festival on May 31-June 1 at Lake Anne.

🎺Listen to the blues-infused arrangements by the Texas Chainsaw Horns on June 5 at Halley Rise.

🚛 Take this June 5 seminar on downsizing offered by Vienna Parks & Recreation.

🌿 Learn how to propagate and create your own herb garden on June 7 at this Vienna Parks & Recreation class.

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