June 14, 2023

Neighbors,

We have noted over the last three years that the section at the bottom of this newsletter – Three Things to Know Today – gets a lot of engagement from readers. There is so much going on in the county and Hunter Mill District and I want to make sure you are aware of items that my office thinks are of interest. This month in particular is a busy one so we're going to double your Things to Know Today! Four are at the bottom and two are here. I hope you continue to find this information helpful.

End of School Year Emphasis on Pedestrian Safety

This is the last week of classes for Fairfax County Public Schools and there will be more children out playing, walking and riding bikes. Please slow down and stay aware when you are driving through neighborhoods. The Board of Supervisors is investing $100 million over the next few years to improve, implement, and maintain the infrastructure of our roads to make them safer for pedestrians and cyclists but we need you to be our partner in keeping our children safe. Learn more. In addition, keep in mind that several of our schools hold summer school classes and students will be walking and taking buses to these locations. The Fairfax County Police Department is evaluating moving some of the school zone speed cameras to summer school locations.

Fairfax County Public Library's Summer Reading Program for Adults and Youth

The Library's very popular summer reading program for adults and youth begins this Friday, June 16 and runs through Aug. 18. You can go to fairfaxcounty.beanstack.org to register and then depending on your age, earn ten or fifteen virtual badges by reading or listening to books, reading for 20 or 30 minutes, completing activities or a combination of all three. Once you have earned your badges, you can visit your local library branch and pick up some great prizes, which include George Mason basketball game tickets and Wolf Trap lawn seat tickets. In addition, when you pre-register for the summer reading program you will be entered into a raffle to receive a $25 e-gift card from Scrawl Books in Reston. To encourage recreational reading, the Fairfax Library Foundation has given the Library 80 e-gift cards. Winners will be notified by Tuesday, June 27. Learn more.

Respectfully,

Walter

Note: Fairfax County Government Offices will be closed on Monday, June 19 in observance of the Juneteenth holiday. However, some facilities are open and schedules vary. Learn more.

The Board of Supervisors held several committee meetings yesterday, June 13. The presentations and agendas can be found below. You can watch the meetings here.

• Economic Initiatives Committee
• Personnel and Reorganization Committee
• Health and Human Services Committee
• Safety and Security Committee

The next Board of Supervisors Meeting is Tuesday, June 27. Information will be available here.

TONIGHT: Planning Commission Public Hearing on Reston Comprehensive Plan

Updates:

Tonight, Wednesday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m. the Planning Commission has scheduled a public hearing on the Reston Comprehensive Plan. Planning Commission meetings are broadcast live on Fairfax County Government's Cable TV Channel 16 and streamed live online with closed captions provided in English and Spanish (los subtítulos en español). Meetings are also available to view on demand following the meeting. Live audio of the meeting may also be accessed by dialing 703-324-7700. Learn more.

June 6 Community Meeting on Reston Comprehensive Plan

• Prior to tonight's formal public hearing before the Planning Commission, Hunter Mill District Planning Commissioner John Carter hosted a community meeting last week. Watch the video. Commissioner Carter's Presentation. More information on the Reston Comprehensive Plan.

Hunter Mill Land Use Committee Virtual Meeting June 20

The Hunter Mill District Land Use Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, June 20 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: 997 131 517#. For information, email Shruti Nallappa or call 703-478-5123.

Lake Anne Visioning Study

The video and presentation of the June 8 meeting is available online on the project webpage. Go to Community Engagement and click on Past Events.

We're halfway into June and it has been a busy month, with a lot of events and activities in Hunter Mill District. Here are a few highlights:

Graduations

Last week I enjoyed celebrating our Hunter Mill District students! I was honored to join several fellow elected officials to participate in the Herndon High School and South Lakes High School graduations, as well as the Davis Career Center Transition Ceremony. Best wishes to all the graduates and families!

SPARC Pancake Breakfast

A high point of this past weekend was the SPARC Pancake Breakfast. This organization does incredible work supporting residents with disabilities. Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik and I enjoyed handing out awards and talking to several families. And the pancakes were really good, too! Learn more about SPARC

Welcome CargoSense

On Monday, I participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new headquarters for CargoSense at 11600 Sunrise Valley Drive in Reston. CargoSense is one of the INC.5000 fastest growing small companies in America. I was joined by Fairfax County Economic Development Authority CEO Victor Hoskins to celebrate yet another tech company bringing its headquarters to Hunter Mill District.

Sign Up Your Neighborhood for National Night Out on Aug. 1

National Night Out is scheduled for Aug. 1. Whether it’s a simple ice cream party or an all-out festival, National Night Out is an opportunity to gather with your neighbors, get better acquainted, and talk about issues of common concern with Fairfax County Police officers. Learn more. Register.

Home Security Tips Before Heading on Vacation

Officers from the Fairfax County Police Department's Crime Prevention Unit have some simple tips that can help strengthen the security of your property and deter crime.

• If you’re heading out of town, avoid announcing your plans on social media.
• Ensure your residence appears occupied, even when no one is home, by using timers on lights.
• Keep all doors and windows closed and locked.
• Secure sliding glass doors by placing a metal rod or a wooden dowel rod in the track.
• Lock the door to an attached garage.
• Keep the perimeter of your home well-lit.
• Have a trusted neighbor check on your home if you plan to be away.
• Keep landscaping trimmed near entrances and walkways.
• Organize or join a Neighborhood Watch program.
• Install security cameras that preferably have recording capabilities.

Learn more tips and what you can do to prevent burglaries.

Liberty Amendments Month Gets Underway

Celebrate Juneteenth and kick off Liberty Amendments Month this Saturday, June 17 at First Baptist Church, 450 Orchard St., NW, 11 a.m.to 3 p.m. The event includes craft vendors, kids' activities and live music from Common Ground. The opening ceremony will begin at noon. For more details, visit www.viennava.gov/liberty.

From the County's Health Department: Start Summer With These Healthy Habits

With the summer season upon us, the Health Department has some reminders for five healthy habits that can help you have a healthy and safe summer. Learn more.

Fairfax County Public Schools: Mental Wellness Support During Summer

The FCPS Office of Intervention and Prevention Services will offer virtual mental wellness consultations from June 26 to Aug. 4. Any FCPS parent or secondary student can schedule a 45-minute consultation with a school psychologist or school social worker by phone or videoconference. All parents and secondary students are encouraged to take advantage of this service. Consultations can be requested online or by calling 703-503-2520 and leaving a message.

Mental Health Resources

Mental Health Matters--Resources, Trainings and Videos 

Volunteers and Donations Needed

How to Help Your Neighbors in Hunter Mill District

Several Hunter Mill District Companies on 2023 Fortune 500 List

The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority announced this week that 10 Fairfax County-based companies landed on the 2023 Fortune 500 list, the annual list of the largest corporations in the United States, ranked by revenue for the 2022 fiscal year. It is exciting to note that several of these companies are based here in Hunter Mill District. Learn more.

Metro Introduces Reduced Fares to Assist Low-Income Customers

Metro's new income-qualified reduced fare program, 'Metro Lift' launches Tuesday, June 20. Customers in DC, Maryland and Virginia who qualify for the US Department of Agriculture's Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) are eligible to enroll. Learn more.

Community Meetings on Proposed Changes to Sign Regulations

Join county staff at an upcoming virtual community meeting to learn about proposed changes to county sign regulations. The meetings are scheduled for Thursday, June 22 at noon and Wednesday, June 28 at 7 p.m. and will be held on Microsoft Teams. Agenda items include an overview of the changes, along with discussion and time for questions and comments to be addressed. Links to join the meeting are included on the Signs Part II website under "Upcoming Meetings."

FCPD Helicopter Featured in Outdoor Aviation Display June 17

Aircraft enthusiasts can get up close to unique aircraft on Saturday, June 17, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly. The Fairfax County Police Department's helicopter and flight crew will be on-site, so be sure to stop by. Learn more.