Jan. 18, 2023

Neighbors,

The weather may have been chilly last weekend but there were many warm hearts serving neighbors in need and celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Although I am always amazed by the generosity of our community with their time and resources, it was especially great to see so many young people involved with the day of service! Below are just a few of the activities that took place.

I also want to note that there continues to be great need this winter here in Hunter Mill and countywide. If you can, I hope you will continue to participate in events like Stuff the Bus and the Winter Coat Closet, as well as supporting our local nonprofit organizations.

Day of Service at Cathy Hudgins Community Center at Southgate

There was a great turnout of all ages for Reston Community Center's Day of Service. There were several activities, including making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the Embry Rucker Shelter residents. It had been a while since I last made PB&J sandwiches, but I got great advice from the young volunteers.

Stuff the Bus at Fox Mill Giant in Herdon

We stuffed the (Fastran) bus last Saturday during the first weekend for the 2023 Stuff the Bus events. Now in its 12th year, Stuff the Bus continues to support food assistance efforts for families. Stuff the Bus has collected more than 220 tons of food to feed people experiencing food insecurity in our county.

Winter Coat Closet in Reston

Another stop on Saturday was the Winter Coat Closet, a partnership of my office and Cornerstones. The really cold weather was a good reminder of the need to make sure everyone has a warm winter coat. On Saturday alone, 223 coats and 201 hats/gloves/scarves were distributed to 62 families. Please note that there is a need for large men's winter jackets, especially in 2X and 3X sizes. If you have any to donate, they can be dropped off at my office at 1801 Cameron Glen Dr., Reston.

Reston Community Center MLK Events

A big thank you to Reston Community Center for the events celebrating the life of Martin Luther King Jr.! It was an honor to be a part of them. Pictured with me are (left to right) RCC Board officers Paul Thomas and Lisa Sechrest-Ehrhardt, Hunter Mill School Board member Melanie Meren, RCC Board officer Bill Bouie, keynote speaker and author Heather McGhee, Congressman Gerry Connolly and RCC Board officer Beverly Cosham.

Day of Service at First Baptist Church of Vienna

Also on Monday, First Baptist Church of Vienna welcomed more than 100 volunteers to help local students who require food assistance on weekends. The volunteers packed more than 1,000 bags filled with healthy, shelf-stable foods such as soup, tuna, and applesauce. Community members also packed bags for college students and created thank you cards for local teachers. Thank you you, (pictured) Minister Kennard Jones, director, Youth and Young Adult Engagement, and Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Vernon C. Walton for hosting this day of service!

Regards,

Walter

Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) Board Chairman Bill Bouie has announced his intention to step down as chairman of the Park Authority Board after 14 years of distinguished leadership. The good news is that Bill will continue representing the Hunter Mill District, a post he has held since 2005. When I first heard that he was stepping down as chairman, I was not happy. But then I thought about how the residents of Fairfax County, the FCPA staff, the hundreds of thousands of people that use our parks, and how the environment have all benefited from his 14 years of service as chairman. I served on the FCPA board from 2016-2018 and have a first-hand appreciation of the steady hand that Bill provided the Park Authority as chairman. I am heartened that he will remain as the Hunter Mill representative and continue his distinguished service to our community.

Learn more.

Three Upcoming Site-Specific Plan Amendment Community Meetings

As noted in last week's newsletter, the Site-Specific Plan Amendment (SSPA) process allows anyone to propose a land use change to the Comprehensive Plan, the guiding document for land use and development decisions in the county. Thirteen SSPA proposals (called “nominations”) in the Hunter Mill District will be reviewed in a series of virtual community meetings hosted by the county's Department of Planning and Development. The first Reston meeting took place last night, Jan. 17 and you can watch the meeting here. Upcoming Hunter Mill District meetings:

Thursday, Jan.19, 7 p.m.: Group 2 Reston Nominations

Link to the meeting (MS Teams)

• CPN22-HM-001 RTC Partnership LLC,1760 Reston Parkway
• CPN22-HM-004 RMC Owner LLC, 12120 Sunrise Valley Drive
• CPN22-HM-005 Reston Corner, 12001, 12005, and 12007 Sunrise Valley Drive
• CPN22-HM-006 1960 RCP LLC, 1950 Roland Clarke Place

Tuesday, Jan. 31, 7 p.m.: Group 3 Reston and Hunter Mill Nominations

Link to the meeting (MS Teams)

• CPN22-HM-002, Michael Faraday Court, 1805 Michael Faraday Court
• CPN22-HM-010, Samuel Morse Drive, 1810, 1825, and 1850 Samuel Morse Drive and 11111 Sunset Hills Road
• CPN22-HM-013, Brookfield Properties, 1620, 1621, 1624, 1627, 1628, and 1630 Hunter Mill Road, 1623, 1627, and 1631 Crowell Road, 10700, 10718, 10728, 10736, and 10800 Sunset Hills Road
• CPN22-HM-014 – Lake Fairfax Business Center, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, 1759, 1760, 1761, 1768, 1769, and 1771 Business Center Drive
• CPN22-HM-015, Crowell Road, 1533, 1538, 1542, 1546, 1616, and 1620 Crowell Road

Wednesday, Feb. 1: Tysons Nominations

Link to the meeting (MS Teams)

• CPN22-HM-0012, Koons Chevrolet, 2000 and 2050 Chain Bridge Road

Reston Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Virtual Meeting, Monday, Jan. 23, 7:30 p.m.

The Reston P&Z meeting is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m. Use this link to attend and participate. You may also call in and listen to the meeting, dial 571-429-5982 and use conference call ID: 243 717 721#. For more information contact Shruti Nallappa.

Hunter Mill Land Use Committee Virtual Meeting: Tuesday, Jan. 24, 7:30 p.m.

The Hunter Mill District Land Use Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m. Use this link to attend. You may also call in and listen to the meeting, dial 571-429-5982 and use conference call ID: 132 324 031#. For information, contact Shruti Nallappa.

Reston Comprehensive Plan: Planning Commission Workshop with County Staff,

Thursday, Jan. 26, 7:30 p.m.

The Planning Commission workshop will take place at the Fairfax County Government Center, Conference Room 11, 1200 Government Center Pkwy, Fairfax

Live Stream Link

• Reston Comprehensive Plan Study webpage and podcast.

Hunter Mill District Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting, Jan. 25

The next Hunter Mill Transportation Advisory Council (HMTAC) meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 8 a.m. The meeting will be virtual on Teams, use this link to join the meeting.  Or call 571-429-5982 and use Conference ID: 462 492 791#. The HMTAC meets quarterly on community transportation issues. For additional information or to be added to the HMD TAC email list contact Shyamali Hauth

Reston Town Center North Task Force, Jan. 30, 7 p.m.

The first meeting of the Reston Town Center North Task Force, which includes representatives from surrounding neighborhoods, is Monday, Jan. 30, 7 p.m. in the community room at the North County Governmental Center, 1801 Cameron Glen Dr., Reston. Learn more about Reston Town Center North redevelopment.

From Fairfax County Police Department: Thieves Targeting Hyundai and Kia Vehicles

Fairfax County police officers have taken 24 reports for stolen Hyundai vehicles and 13 reports for stolen Kia vehicles from Nov. 22 to Jan. 17. Our officers and Auto Crimes Enforcement Unit have increased their presence throughout the county, and you can help with these safety tips (no matter what type of car you own):   

• Park in well-lit areas. 
• Close and lock all doors and windows before leaving your vehicle unattended. 
• Double-click the lock button on the key fob or check the door handles to make sure the vehicle is locked. 
• Never leave your vehicle running while unattended, even for a short duration of time.
• Do not leave your keys, key fobs or valet keys in your vehicle. This includes house keys, garage door openers and keys to other vehicles. 
• Ensure your vehicle is turned off when leaving it unattended. Some vehicles with keyless ignition systems can be driven for extended periods of time, even if the key fob is not inside the vehicle. 
• Keep information, such as the make, model, model year, license plate, and Vehicle Identification Number easily accessible in the event your vehicle is stolen. 
• Invest in a steering wheel lock. 
• If you own a 2010-2021 Hyundai or Kia, contact a dealership to see what advanced auto prevention tools are available to you. 
• Report suspicious activity to the non-emergency line at 703-691-2131. In the event of an emergency, dial 9-1-1. 

Stuff the Bus Comes to Vienna Jan. 28

The Vienna Giant, 359 Maple Ave., is hosting the next Stuff the Bus on Saturday, Jan. 28, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please stop by if you can with much needed food donations (cash also accepted). Learn more.

COVID-19 Resources

• Stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines. Find a vaccine near you at vaccines.gov.
• For the latest vaccine information, visit the Center for Disease Control, the Virginia Department of Health, and the Fairfax County Health Department websites.
• Stay informed about COVID-19 in our community and the actions to take to keep you, your family, and your community healthy.
• See updates from the Fairfax County Health Department
• COVID-19 Case Data
• COVID-19 Vaccine Data
• For questions call the Health Department 9am-5pm weekdays: 703-267-3511
• Inova has a helpful FAQ.

Campaign Finance Class for 2023 Potential Candidates

Fairfax County is hosting a campaign finance how-to class on Jan. 28, conducted by the Virginia Department of Elections. Registration deadline is Jan. 25. Potential candidates for Northern Virginia’s 2023 elections are invited to attend, either in person or online. The class will include an overview of rules, procedures and penalties. Learn more.

Library Debuts Launchpads for Kids

Playaway Launchpads are durable, kid-friendly learning tablets with pre-loaded apps, stories and videos. Each tablet is themed around a specific skill or subject and is designed to give kids the tools to learn without the need for an internet connection. Every Fairfax County library branch has a set of 36 Launchpads that will be available for check beginning on Jan. 30. Launchpads are divided into three categories or academies: Pre-K, Reading and STEAM.

Learn more.

Beech Leaf Disease Confirmed in Fairfax County

If the leaves of beech tree saplings have dark green stripes in the veins, or if more mature trees have reduced foliage, they may be showing signs of beech leaf disease. Infected trees may also exhibit puckered, cupped or distorted leaves. The county's Urban Forest Management Division has been closely monitoring the situation since September, when the disease was detected in several county parks. Learn more.