June 15, 2022

Neighbors,

Although COVID-19 is still affecting our communities, it is important that we assess the county's overall response to the pandemic. By request of the Board of Supervisors, the county has two surveys to gather input from both residents as well as the business community. I encourage you to take the time to fill out one or both surveys so that we can move forward with your input and lessons learned. The deadline to respond is July 5 and please note that this is for county response, not state or federal response.

The Community Services Survey is for residents to provide input on their experiences with county services. These can include health, permits, inspections, voting, taxes, community centers, parks and recreation, transportation assistance, libraries, public meetings, commissions and councils, food assistance, housing assistance, child and adult protective services, public safety services, etc.

The Business-Related Survey is to gather feedback from businesses and residents who interacted with the following Fairfax County departments and services:

• Department of Planning and Development
• Land Development Services 
• Department of Economic Initiatives
• Department of Code Compliance

Your voice matters and your feedback will guide the county's future decisions and planning. You can learn more here. If you have questions regarding the surveys, contact my office at [email protected] 

Regards,

Walter

What to Know About Anticipated COVID-19 Vaccinations for Children Under 5

• Community Levels By County
• Fairfax County COVID-19 Data Dashboard

The Board of Supervisors held several committee meetings yesterday, June 14, including two that I chair, Information Technology and Transportation. You can access the meeting materials and watch the meetings below:

• Information Technology Committee video 
• Housing Committee video
• Land Use Policy Committee  video
• Transportation Committee video

The next full meeting of the Board of Supervisors is Tuesday, June 28. Information can be found here. 

Hunter Mill Melodies Summer Entertainment Series Begins June 22 for Children Series; July 7 for Evening Series

This free entertainment series at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon features a wide variety of musical acts from across the United States and from around the world. Learn more. 

Document Shredding Event at South Lakes High School July 16 

The very popular document shredding events provided by the county's Department of Public Works and Environmental Services are back. Mark your calendar for July 16, 7-11 a.m. to bring your documents to South Lakes High School at 11400 South Lakes Dr., Reston

• Shredding is provided on a first-come, first-served basis, until the trucks fill up.
• There is a four box limit

Learn more, including additional shredding event dates.

Register Now for National Night Out Aug. 2

The Fairfax County Police Department is celebrating National Night Out (NNO) on Tuesday, Aug. 2 to demonstrate crime is not welcome in our neighborhoods. It's simple to participate: plan a HOA or community gathering (ideas below), invite your neighbors and register your event here.

Ideas for NNO events include:

• Pool Party
• Bike Parade
• Pot Luck
• Gathering in a Common Area
• Lights on Campaign
• Community Scavenger Hunt

For more information, contact Reston District Station officer Katy Defoe.

Public Input Sought on Fairfax Connector January 2023 Service Changes

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation  is hosting a virtual community input meeting, tonight, Wednesday, June 15, at 7 p.m. on Fairfax Connector proposed service changes for January 2023. If you cannot attend, you are encouraged to give feedback on the proposed changes via an online survey, email, mail and by phone through Wednesday, July 6.

• Join tonight's meeting online
• Join by phone: 571-429-5982; Access Code: 128522828#
• View Presentation
• View Route Profiles

Learn more. 

Reston Planning & Zoning Virtual Meeting, Monday, June 20, 7:30 p.m.

The meeting is now hosted on the Teams platform. Use this link to attend and participate in the meeting. If you do not have the Teams app, click on the middle prompt “Continue Using This Browser.” You can also listen to the meeting by calling 571-429-5982, use Access Code: 68905146# More information. For information, contact Shruti Nallappa, 703-478-0283.

Hunter Mill Land Use Committee Virtual Meeting, Tuesday, June 21 , 7:30 p.m.

The meeting is hosted on the Webex platform. Use this link to attend and participate in the meeting. You will be prompted to register with your email address and ZIP code before logging into meeting. If you prefer to only listen to the meeting, you may call 1-844-621-3956 and use code: 2338 192 8850. For information, contact Shruti Nallappa, 703-478-0283.

Reston Comprehensive Plan Study Task Force Update; Next Meeting is June 21

County staff review of the Task Force’s interim recommendations on the 14 areas of the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study is underway. The next Task Force meeting to discuss county staff input:

• Monday, June 21, 5 p.m. The meeting is hosted on Webex, Use this link to attend and participate. Call in and listen to the meeting: dial 1-844-621-3956, and use access code: 2337 128 2725. The meeting can also be viewed on YouTube.
• Important Note: Meeting dates are subject to change, non-Task Force members can receive notifications about changes to scheduled meetings. To sign up for email updates, visit the Email Subscription page, enter your email address and select Reston Study & Plan Amendment News.

To learn more about the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study and the Task Force, visit the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study webpage. The archive of meeting details and agendas is here. The video archive of all past task force meetings can be found on my YouTube page. If you have questions or would like to provide input, please email [email protected].

Last week, I provided a full calendar of activities taking place in Hunter Mill District and countywide to celebrate Juneteenth this coming weekend. You can read my newsletter article here and add one more to the list:

Juneteenth Commemoration at Bull Run Regional Park June 18, 10 a.m.

The Fairfax County NAACP and NOVA Parks are hosting a Juneteenth event that will highlight new research into the area’s remarkable history, including Robert Carter III’s emancipation of 500 enslaved people in the 1790s. This and other related stories will be told in a number of interpretive panels. The park is located at 7700 Bull Run Dr. in Centreville. Learn more. 

Chillin’ on Church Begins Friday, June 17

The annual Chillin' on Church series begins this Friday, June 17, and continues every third Friday of the month through September on historic Church Street. This family-friendly event runs from 6:30- 9:30 p.m. with live music, food trucks, and beer and wine vendors. Admission is free. Learn more.

Independence Day Celebration on Friday, July 1

Vienna's Independence Day celebration is Friday, July 1 at Yeonas Park. The U.S. Navy Concert Band will perform beginning at 8 p.m., and a 20-minute fireworks display will begin at 9:30 p.m. Learn more. 

With gas now over $5 a gallon, it is a good time to look for ways to save money and gas this summer. Here are a few to get us started:

• Make sure your car is up to date on maintenance so it uses gas efficiently.
• Consider using your bike (or use Capital Bikeshare) to commute or run errands. The county's Bike Map is a great way to figure out your best routes. We have free paper copies at my office, call 703-478-0283.
• Combine your errands and other trips (we've heard this one many times). You drive fewer miles and save gas – simple.
• Check your tire pressure. According to Kiplinger Reports, even if you have a tire pressure monitor, it may not light up until your pressure has decreased more than 25 percent.
• There are residents who may be intimidated about using public transportation such as Metro trains or Fairfax Connector buses. The county provides travel training to help familiarize you with using public transit. Learn more.

Enjoy Using School Grounds This Summer

In addition to our parks and other places to enjoy summer, our Fairfax County Public Schools are also great destinations. School blacktops, playgrounds, outdoor basketball and tennis courts, and tracks are available for use by individuals (not organized groups) without being scheduled. Learn more.

Arts Fairfax: Things to do June 15-29

Arts Fairfax provides a summary of fun things to do in Fairfax County during the next two weeks. Learn more.

5 Tips to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect

The Department of Family Services provides helpful tips on what to look for and what to do is you suspect a child is being abused or neglected. Learn more.