June 7, 2023

Neighbors,

As noted below, yesterday the Board of Supervisors highlighted Monday, June 19, 2023, as Juneteenth. As you may already be aware, Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 that word of the Emancipation Proclamation and the end of the Civil War finally reached enslaved people in Galveston, Texas that they were free. The total abolition of slavery in the United States took place six months later with the ratification of the 13th Amendment. It then took us a very long time, well over 100 years, to embrace this holiday as a state and county. However, in June 2020 it was designated as government holiday so that we can reflect and celebrate the freedom and resiliency of our Black community. There are many events scheduled countywide through county agencies including the Park Authority and Library, and I encourage everyone to participate. Learn more.

After Juneteenth was declared an official holiday, the Town of Vienna created Liberty Amendments Month to foster mutual respect and understanding and to celebrate the Constitutional Amendments that give all citizens liberty and a say in how they are governed, regardless of their culture or station in life. The month commemorates the passage of the 13th, 14th, 15th and 19th Amendments, which among other things granted full rights to citizens who were previously excluded from the U.S. Constitution. Several highlights for the 2023 celebration include:

• Juneteenth Celebration at First Baptist Church of Vienna, Saturday June 17, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the Liberty Amendments Opening Ceremony at Noon.
• Liberty and Libraries: Author Talk and Unveiling of Patrick Henry Library Redesign Plans: The Role Libraries Play in Enhancing Equality and Individual Rights, Wednesday, June 28, 6:30-8 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center
• African American Historic Sites Tour of Vienna is a self-guided tour of contributions of Vienna’s African Americans from 1867 to 2006 compiled by longtime residents Sylvia Taylor and Gloria Runyon. Click here to plan and take your tour. 
• Vienna Multicultural Festival is Saturday, July 15, 3 to 8:30 p.m. at the Vienna Town Green. 

Here is the complete schedule for the month of activities – I hope to see you at one of these great activities!



Respectfully,

Walter

The Board of Supervisors met yesterday, June 6. You can review the Board Package here and watch the meeting here. Highlights of the meeting include:

• We heard several powerful speeches during the morning's presentations, celebrating Pride Month and Juneteenth, as well as the efforts of Moms Demand Action to prevent gun violence. We are so fortunate to have outstanding community members who work tirelessly to make Fairfax County a welcoming and safe place to live.

• The Board approved the Continuum of Care (CoC) Board Charter. A CoC Board is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for homeless assistance funding. Learn more.
• A joint Board Matter with Supervisor Pat Herrity and Supervisor Dalia Palchik was approved to recognize the Vienna Youth, Inc. Varsity Boys Rugby recognizing their exceptional accomplishment of winning both a Virginia State Championship and National Championship.

Lake Anne Economic Visioning Project Update Meeting June 8

Fairfax County's Department of Planning and Development in partnership with consultant Streetsense is coordinating a study to form a consensus around an economic vision for the Lake Anne Community Revitalization Area. The final presentation is Thursday, June 8, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Reston Community Center Lake Anne 1609-A Washington Plaza N. Space is limited, please RSVP to attend. Learn more.

Reston Town Center North Task Force Meeting June 13

The next Reston Town Center North Task Force Meeting is Tuesday, June 13, 7 p.m. in the North County Health and Human Services Building, located at 1850 Cameron Glen Dr., Reston, Meeting Room 600/600A. Presentations will be made from the Department of Public Works, the Department of Budget and Management's Economic, Demographic and Statistical Research Unit; Cornerstones, and INOVA Hospital System. For more information, contact Shruti Nallappa 

Planning Commission Public Hearings on Reston Comprehensive Plan June 14

Next Wednesday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m. the Planning Commission has scheduled public hearings 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.

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.

Code Red Air Quality Today and Tomorrow

News From Fairfax Alerts:

Due to the wildfires in Canada, a Code Red Air Quality alert has been issued for today, Wednesday, June 7, (and expected to continue tomorrow) which means air quality is unhealthy for everyone in Fairfax County and the region. View real-time data

People with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, and teens should take these steps to reduce your exposure:

• Move physical activities indoors or reschedule them.
• Avoid waiting in long drive-thru lines, for example, at coffee shops, fast-food restaurants, or banks. Park your car and go inside.
• Combine trips.
• Re-fuel your vehicle after dark.

Learn more.

Fairfax County Police Department News

FCPD is launching Zencity’s Blockwise, a new public survey tool used by dozens of leading police departments around the country, to understand local concerns, attitudes, and trust in police officers. The tool will enable FCPD to holistically understand local neighborhood safety issues, enhancing their responsiveness to community priorities. Learn more.

Filing Deadline is June 20 for Town Council

June 20 is the filing deadline to run for the Vienna Town Council. Due to a change in Virginia law, Town Council elections will be on the same day as the November General Election, and all seven seats will be on the ballot this year. Learn more.

Screen on the Green

The first Big Screen on the Green event of the summer is tomorrow, Thursday, June 8, 8:30 p.m. on the Town Green. Bring the kids and watch "Sing 2" and enjoy popcorn and refreshments while supplies last. Learn more.

Brain Fitness: Keys to Extending Independence June 21

Register for this free webinar on Wednesday, June 21, Noon to 1 p.m. Ellen Clarke, Ph.D. will share with family caregivers how to extend independence through improved brain health. In this talk, she will go over six different, evidence-based brain health improvement techniques, and how to successfully implement them to maintain and extend the independence of both caregivers and their loved ones. These methods do not involve pharmaceuticals and can be easily applied in home and community-based settings. Online registration: bit.ly/CAREWEB1 or call 703-324-2019. 

Mental Health Resources

Mental Health Matters--Resources, Trainings and Videos 

Volunteers and Donations Needed

How to Help Your Neighbors in Hunter Mill District

Additional Early Voting Site Available for June 20 Democratic Primary Beginning Saturday, June 10

For the run up to the final week of early voting for the June 20 Democratic primary, an additional 13 early voting sites will open on Saturday, June 10, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A total of 16 early voting sites will be open on Saturday, including here at the North County Governmental Center in Reston. Learn more about locations and time/date details.

Public Safety Day Open House on June 10

This Saturday, June 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. is Public Safety Day in the back parking lot of the McConnell Public Safety and Transportation Operations Center, 4890 Alliance Drive, Fairfax. Bring your family and friends to enjoy an array of games, food, demonstrations and tours that showcase the important work our public safety agencies do to keep our community safe. You can meet personnel from Fairfax County 9-1-1 Call Center, Department of Emergency Management and Security, Sheriff’s Office, Police Department (including Animal Protection), Fire and Rescue Department, Virginia State Police and Virginia Department of Transportation. Learn more.

Please Preserve Our Pollinators

Fairfax County Park Authority is encouraging residents to learn more about the significant impacts that bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds and even bats have on our surroundings and what we can do to protect them. Some examples of things you can do include creating pollinator gardens, reducing pesticide use and providing nesting sites in your yard. Learn more.