|
September 10, 2025
Neighbors,
Yesterday the Board of Supervisors proclaimed September as Hunger Action Month, helping to both raise awareness of the issue and drive action to address it.
Unfortunately, hunger is a problem in Fairfax County even though it’s one of the wealthiest jurisdictions in the nation. Almost a quarter of our community experiences hunger or food insecurity, according to the Capital Area Food Bank’s 2024 Hunger Report.
Who is the face of hunger? You may be surprised that food insecurity affects one in five families in our region who make $120,000 a year, the Capital Area Food Bank found. The nonprofit defines food insecurity as going hungry because you don’t have enough money to pay for groceries, reducing the amount you eat or being unable to afford balanced meals.
Now more than ever, we need to double down on our support to food banks and other organizations that provide food aid. The federal government cut more than $1 billion from the USDA’s food assistance programs that help local food banks. As a result, the three main food banks in our region, which includes the Capital Area Food Bank, have lost 1.4 million meals, the Washington Post reported.
This comes on top of the federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — or SNAP for short. The changes to this program, formerly known as food stamps, took effect on Sept. 1, and it will result in an estimated 2.4 million fewer Americans receiving SNAP benefits per month, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office’s recent analysis.
In Fairfax County, SNAP helps more than 71,000 residents buy food.
In the face of these challenges, what can we do to fight hunger? There are several ways you can make a real difference.
First, please join me in donating to Stuff the Bus. It’s a one-day food drive this Saturday, Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with locations across the county.
In the Hunter Mill District, you can donate non-perishable foods at the Giant at 1450 North Point Village Center. Your donations will benefit the nonprofit LINK Against Hunger.
Here are other organizations that need your help too:
Regards,
Walter
| |
- In the Community
- W&OD Trail Rally
- Louise Archer Historical Maker Unveiling
- Board of Supervisors Update
- Suicide Prevention Training
- Bike Room & Locker Sale
- Upcoming Land Use Meetings
-
What's News in Vienna
- Events and Activities
| | I've got some deliciously good news to share with you all! I joined the grand opening for Dano's Granola in Reston. It was a pleasure to be there with founder Dania Abimourched as she opened her doors and debuted her new product line. If you haven’t stopped by her shop yet, check out her small-batch, organic granola made with superfoods like pumpkin seeds and no refined sugars. Congratulations to the entire team at Dano's Granola! | |  | | | Rallying for the W&OD Trail. Dominion Should Agree to Replant Areas They Clear-Cut | | |
What’s happening: On Saturday, I joined a rally to call on Dominion Energy to stop indiscriminately mowing down mature trees and to agree to a robust replanting plan for the areas along the W&OD Trail where they clear-cut 374 trees.
Unfortunately, the legal reality of their easement means that public pressure is the best hope to get Dominion to do the right thing.
Robust replanting plan: While I’m pleased that they’ve been working with NOVA Parks on a new memorandum of understanding to guide future, targeted trimming of trees that pose a threat to their power lines, it is also important to develop a long-term stewardship plan for this linear park. However, Dominion still hasn’t agreed to such a plan yet.
The trail isn’t just an active recreation and transportation network. It’s also a true greenway for our local ecology. The trees and other natural features along the trail provide ecosystem services like habitat for native birds and wildlife, help to improve air quality and absorb greenhouse gases, absorb stormwater, and more.
As a result of the clear-cutting, invasive plants have now overrun the areas that Dominion clear cut through Vienna. They have proposed spraying to kill these invasives which is a positive first step.
However, the technical consensus is this action must be combined with a robust replanting plan. It should include the full range of native species — including trees that don’t grow high enough to bother the power lines, shrubbery, and appropriately selected grasses — to provide the community a beautiful park that also supports pollinators.
Community partnership required: This plan also needs to include a framework to work with neighbors adjoining the trail. Their properties – outside of Dominion’s easement –sometimes have very tall trees that threaten Dominion’s lines and sometimes are also home to some of our most aggressive invasive species.
Thanks to the Sierra Club Great Falls Group, Washington Area Bicyclist Association, Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling, Coalition for Smarter Growth, Nature Forward and Fairfax Families for Safer Streets for organizing this rally, as well as for keeping up the pressure.
| |
Honoring Louise Archer with
a New Historical Marker
| | |
What’s happening: We unveiled a new historical marker in tribute to Louise Archer — an extraordinary educator, principal, and advocate who led the former Vienna Colored School during the era of segregation. The marker stands outside the Louise Archer Elementary School — which is the only one of the seven county schools for African Americans that remained opened after integration.
Why it matters: In Fairfax County, we’re not afraid of our history — and we’re not erasing our history either. With this marker, we’re recognizing our history and honoring someone who deserves it. Not only does this marker commemorate her legacy, but also it represents a step toward a more inclusive and accurate telling of our history in line with the One Fairfax Policy adopted by the Board of Supervisors.
Louise Archer’s legacy: I was deeply honored to stand alongside her former students and colleagues who reflected on her lasting impact. They told stories of her contributions both inside and outside the classroom.
For example, Archer was a one-woman school transportation system and would pick up students to take them to school as she drove in from her home in DC.
“Let’s not forget this is the part of town inhabited by Vienna’s Black community, so Mrs. Archer’s Model T traveled down dirt roads, and sidewalks were pretty much non-existent,” said Nadine James, a former teacher at the school. “The reality was that Black children in our community had to walk long distances to get here because there was no county transportation.”
Because Fairfax County didn’t offer secondary education to African Americans until 1954, Archer had students use her Washington, D.C. address to register for high school so they wouldn’t pay out-of-state tuition.
| | |
Historical marker project: Archer’s marker is the fifth and last marker to be installed as part of the county’s Black/African American Historical Marker Project launched in 2021.
Students were invited to nominate historically significant people, places, and events that have shaped the Black experience in Fairfax County. Archer was nominated twice by:
- Anne Marie Harris from Louise Archer Elementary
- Sydney and Hunter Guthrie students at James Madison High School and Luther Jackson Middle School.
The marker project is a collaboration among the Board of Supervisors, Fairfax County Public Schools, History Commission, Department of Planning and Development and Department of Neighborhood and Community Services.
Marker text: The marker’s text is in the photo below.
| | Board of Supervisors Update | | |
The Board of Supervisors met yesterday September 9. You can watch the meeting and review the agenda and package.
Recognizing Disabilities Voting Rights Week
What happened: We proclaimed Disability Voting Rights Week in the county from Sept. 9-12. Voting is a fundamental right regardless of an individual’s abilities, and our proclamation was especially timely with yesterday’s special election for the late Congressman Gerry Connolly’s seat.
Why it matters: “In the 2022 midterms, disabled Virginians voted at the same rate as non-disabled voters, shattering assumptions about political engagement and proving that there is a disability vote that cannot be dismissed,” said Elizabeth Reece with REV Up who accepted the proclamation. The organization is a nonpartisan coalition that registers, educates and empowers people with disabilities to vote.
The number of voters with disabilities continues to grow. Eligible voters who have disabilities increased by 5.1% since 2020 — greater than the percentage of non-disabled voters.
Accessible voting: Fairfax County provides accessible voting for people with disabilities through a variety of accommodations, including curbside voting and ballot-marking devices.
| | |
Proclaiming September as Suicide Prevention Month
Our proclamation was a moment to promote hope, help and public education to save lives. Tragically, there are approximately 1,200 suicides in Virginia every year.
Join Board members for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Walk Out of Darkness on Oct. 4 at the Mosaic District. This month is also an opportunity to learn more about the warning signs of suicide (read more further below in this newsletter)
| | |
Chairman McKay’s Initiative to Increase Affordable Housing Production
What’s happening: Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay presented a motion with his initiatives to increase the production of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families. He directed the county executive to present a roadmap for initiatives no later next spring.
Housing initiatives: Read his full motion that calls for feedback from county staff on several potential action items, including:
- Develop incentives for affordable housing projects that contain affordable units similar to those for commercial revitalization districts.
- Foster the provision of starter for-sale homes for moderate-income families, including creating “villages” of smaller and more affordable homes.
- Streamline the process for faith communities to colocate affordable housing on their properties.
- Leverage technical support from other county agencies to increase the number of proposals that lead to public/private affordable housing
- Explore additional opportunities and capital strategies to make affordable projects more feasible.
- Explore ways the private sector can assist in enhancing the production of affordable and market-rate housing.
- Adjust the county’s state and federal legislative packages to reflect the Board’s positions and resource needs for affordable housing.
My suggestions: At the meeting, I thanked Chairman McKay for bringing forward these ideas that will help make the county an inclusive place for people of all economic means to live. I also offered three suggestions:
-
Exercising care with parking reductions: As for development incentives, I asked we be careful about using reduced parking requirements as an incentive. Parking can be a tripwire for whether an affordable housing project works in a particular community or not. We should be careful that an affordable housing development doesn’t make things worse where localized and obvious parking shortages already exist.
-
Maintain community involvement when considering affordable housing on faith community properties: While I support exploring the idea, I suggested that we move with caution but also explore expanding the staff review. Churches, schools and other institutional uses currently don’t need site-specific designations in the Comprehensive Plan. We may want to build on that policy to remove the requirement for site-specific plan guidance for affordable housing associated with churches and other institutional uses. We should also expand the review to other major institutional uses already approved and in place. I do not support taking away the requirement to rezone such sites, meaning the community would still have input into site-specific affordable housing development proposals.
-
Finance already approved housing developments: I noted the need for creating more entry-level homes for sale. In the Hunter Mill District at least, we are missing the creation of new market-affordable for-sale units, especially around the Silver Line stations. I consider this a market failure. I’ve been told by many in the industry at times, this is usually because no one wants to build these smaller, less expensive entry-level homes. To see if we can help move the needle, I recommended this initiative be expanded to include ways the county or state might assist in the financing of already-entitled housing developments to get more market-affordable condominiums and townhouses.
Additionally, I suggested that county planners evaluate the “village concept” to see if it can be incorporated on a larger scale into the ongoing policy planning exercise and future updates to the Comprehensive Plan’s Concept for Future Development. I suggested a particular focus on how these villages not currently near transit could become new transit-ready communities.
Stay tuned on this one, there much to unpack and much more to come.
| | Suicide Prevention Training and Resources | | |
What’s happening: Take the county’s free suicide-prevention training classes this month.
Called QPR, it stands for “Question, Persuade, and Refer.” These three simple, powerful steps can help save a life. The one-hour, virtual classes will be offered by the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board on:
For more information, contact CSB's Wellness, Health Promotion & Prevention team by email or call 703-324-7000, TTY 711.
Call or text 988 for help: If you or someone you know is facing a mental health crisis, call or text 988. 988 is the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7, free, and confidential. When you dial, you’ll be connected with trained counselors who can listen, support you, and help you find the resources you need.
The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board also offers help 24/7. Call the CSB’s Emergency Services at 703-573-5679. You also may walk into the CSB’s Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health 24 hours a day.
Suicide warning signs: Learn the warning signs that include:
- Talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself.
- Looking for a way to kill oneself, such as searching online or buying a gun.
- Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.
| | |
Save 50% on Bike Room and
Locker Memberships
| | |
What’s happening: Save 50% on your membership to Fairfax County’s bike rooms or lockers. Act now because this offer only lasts until Sept. 15.
Claim your 50% savings: Use the code "Save50" on your application.
Where to find bike rooms and lockers: In the Hunter Mill District, there are bike rooms at the
- Wiehle-Reston East Metrorail Station
- Herndon Metrorail Station
Bike lockers are located at:
| | Upcoming Land Use Meetings | | |
Reston Planning & Zoning Sept. 15
Attend this virtual meeting on Monday, Sept. 15 at 6:30 p.m. Use this link to attend and participate. To participate by phone, dial 571-429-5982 and use conference ID 693 626 456#
Agenda:
Hunter Mill Land Use Committee Sept. 16 Meeting *Postponed*
The Tuesday Sept. 16 meeting has been postponed to Tuesday, Oct. 21.
Planning & Zoning Special Meeting: Sept. 22
Attend the virtual Reston P&Z meeting on Monday, Sept. 22 at 6:30 p.m. Use this link to attend and participate. To participate by phone, dial 571-429-5982 and use conference ID 870 214 258#
Agenda: Plan Amendment SSPA 2023-III-12UP: 1950 Roland Clarke Place
| | |
What’s happening: At their request, the Town of Vienna has joined Fairfax County’s Deer Management Program for the first time.
While the archery program began across the county this past Saturday, management operations won’t begin in the town until November when Fairfax County Police sharpshooters will cull deer at night.
Last October, the council requested that I include the town in the county’s annual program, and they adopted a new ordinance in April to authorize it in Vienna.
Management sites: Two locations were selected by the town:
- Northside Park
- Mulch Yard on Beulah Street
Police marksmen will also operate on the north side of the Fairfax County Park Authority’s Eudora Park. It’s adjacent to the town’s Northside Park.
Program details: Sharpshooters will work from 4 to 10 p.m. during five nights between November and March 2026.
As a safety precaution, however, the exact dates for sharpshooting are not planned to be released. Vienna Police officers will be stationed around the sites before sharpshooting begins to keep residents from entering, and they will remain at their posts until operations have ended.
Notifying neighbors: Before the program begins, the town will notify neighbors around the management locations, according to a memorandum of understanding that was presented to Vienna officials in June.
Why management is needed: This program aims to reduce the negative impacts of deer on public safety, property, and the local ecosystem.
| | Stay Informed and In Touch | |
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn
703-478-0283, TTY 711
| | | | |
