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| Monthly Newsletter from Chairman Sharon Bulova |
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| Stay Connected |
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Email
Website
Office
(703) 324-2321
Please contact my office with any comments, questions, concerns or ideas.
I look forward to hearing from you!
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Greetings,
Housing. Everywhere I go, the subject of affordable housing is raised. Last month, housing and history intersected.
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On September 11th I received unanimous support among elected officials throughout the COG (Council of Governments) region for a Resolution committing us to increase the availability of housing that is affordable; housing that is affordable for our workforce of varying income levels, for our younger population graduating from high school and college, and for our older community retiring on a fixed income.
Th
roughout the past two years Fairfax County has brought the community together to delve into the subject of housing and to create a strategic plan, with specific goals, for meeting our housing needs. The
Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) consisted of non-profit leaders, stakeholders, members of the business community, and the real estate industry. Its mission was to advise the Board of Supervisors on affordable housing issues. The Committee agreed upon twenty-five specific housing recommendations.
A second group, The
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The Residences at the Government Center, an affordable workforce housing community built in partnership with Jefferson Apartment Group, Stratford Capital Group, and the Virginia Housing Development Authority. |
Affordable Housing Resources Panel (AHRP) identified strategies for meeting the goals of the AHAC. In March, the Panel provided its recommendations to the Board of Supervisors' Budget Committee. It will be up to the Board taking office after the November 5th election to follow through on these efforts to meet the county and region's housing needs.
When Amazon searched the country for a location for their second headquarters, they made it clear that housing affordability was a priority. Housing is critical for the personal security and quality of life for County residents. It is also a necessity for economic success.
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Most of our homes in Fairfax County were built during the 50's, 60's and 70's. They were built to serve a market of first-time homeowners flowing into the area after World War II. But before our modern day of subdivisions and shopping centers, there was an earlier Fairfax.
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| Oak Hill Manor, est. 1790. and in excellent condition! |
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On Saturday, September 21st I gave welcoming remarks at Oak Hill Day in Annandale. The Oak Hill manor house was built by Richard Fitzhugh in 1790. It was part of the original Ravensworth land grant, (over 24,000 acres of land) purchased by Richard's great grandfather William Fitzhugh, known as 'William the
Immigrant,' in 1685.
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outh of Oak Hill, the present day Ravensworth Shopping Center sits on the original grounds of the main plantation home. That magnificent home was destroyed in a mysterious fire in 1926. An historic marker on Port Royal Road next to the shopping center tells a vastly abbreviated version of its long history.
In 2004 Oak Hill, along with its 200+ year old boxwoods lining the original front entrance, was saved from development through a unique Historic Easement. Seville Homes abandoned plans for developing the site in return for the County's purchase of an easement, running in perpetuity with the land, to keep the home and surrounding land in its historic condition. The current owners are Laura and Joseph Bracelend. Under terms of the easement, they are required to open the property for the public to see and appreciate at least once a year. They are fantastic hosts and caretakers. Gazing around at the house and grounds on Saturday, I thought it has never looked as handsome and well-kept. Thank you, Laura and Joe!
A number of former occupants of Oak Hill were present at the Open House, some of them traveling from other states. They mingled with neighbors, some of who remember playing on the Oak Hill grounds as children.
There was a third Ravensworth manor house, Ossian Hall. Tragically, in 1959, after standing vacant for several years, Ossian Hall, was purchased by the developers of the Bristow subdivision. They had no use for the old house and invited the Annandale Fire Department to set it on fire for a practice exercise. According to accounts, firefighters wept as they watched the grand old home burn to the ground. John Browne's excellent history of the Ravensworth Land Grant can be found in his on-line site and book
"The Story of Ravensworth."
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Home sweet home! A picture of my first cat Schatzi on the balcony of our apartment near Fort Belvoir.
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Most homes are not like the Ravensworth manor houses. My very first home in Fairfax County was a one-bedroom apartment on Route 1 near Fort Belvoir. I remember sitting out on our little balcony in the evening and hearing artillery fire as soldiers trained for deployment to Vietnam. We thought our monthly rent was a bit steep at $120 but it was perfect for us and close to the Fort, where both of us worked. Sky View Apartments is still there, and much of the surrounding area is unchanged from those times.
Today, Route 1 is designated as a Revitalization area. The community has come together with County staff and Supervisors McKay and Storck whose Districts straddle Richmond Highway to envision how the corridor can be transformed into more up-to-date mixed use, walkable and transit-oriented neighborhoods. How to do that while retaining the historic nature of "The Highway" and making sure that housing is affordable for both longtime residents and newcomers will be the challenge for the Board of Supervisors taking office in January of 2020.
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S
pring and Fall are the busiest times in Fairfax County. See inside this Byline for the many opportunities to enjoy our community during the weeks ahead.
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Sincerely,
Sharon Bulova
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
Fairfax |
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| Body Worn Camera Implementation |
The following information was provided by FCPD news.
Following a
2018 pilot program and rigorous academic study
, the Board of Supervisors approved full implementation of body worn cameras (BWC), which is expected to begin in May 2020 and take three years to phase in countywide. The Reston, Mason and Mount Vernon district stations, all of which participated in the 2018 pilot, will be the first three stations implementing the program. A fully implemented BWC program will consist of 1,210 cameras issued to all district stations and other key operational staff. One-time funding is included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 budget and baseline funding will be included in the FY 2021 budget and in future years, as required.
BWCs have many potential benefits and have been adopted by numerous other police departments and localities. Most importantly, BWCs are a tool intended to build and sustain trust between the community and police. Trust is the foundation of effective policing and has served the community well in creating a safe community through co-production of public safety and engagement. An investment in BWCs is intended to provide a tool designed to enhance transparency and accountability and help bridge any lack of trust and confidence in the Fairfax County Police Department. For more information on the program and the preceding study, visit the FCPD news blog.
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| State of the County 2019 |
My final State of the County address is now available online and through Channel 16. You can watch the full address now, as well as individual segments on specific topics. Join me as I discuss
transportation, public safety, One Fairfax, and much more in my final message to the County.
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Glass Containers No Longer Accepted in Curbside Recycling Program
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The following information is provided by fairfaxcounty.gov.
To improve the quality of single-stream recycling, Fairfax County will
no longer accept glass bottles and jars in curbside recycling bins effective Oct. 1.
Residents have two options for glass disposal:
- Deliver used glass containers to purple, glass-only recycling containers; there are now 21 purple containers available, and more sites are being evaluated to make dropping off glass more convenient.
- Place used glass in the trash.
Locations of glass containers can be found
here.
The decision to remove glass from the single-stream recycling program was made after consulting with private recycling sorting centers and Covanta Fairfax, Inc., which operates the waste-to-energy plant.
Glass creates three main problems for single-stream recycling:
- Glass containers placed in curbside recycling bins breaks during collection and transport to recycling sorting centers. Broken glass contaminates bales of other more valuable recycled items, such as cardboard and metals. Contamination has become a major problem for the recycling industry in the past two years since China, the largest customer for recycled material, imposed strict standards on the quality of recycled material it accepts.
- The abrasive broken glass damages machinery.
- Glass is also heavy, which adds cost to transporting recyclables to and from recycling centers.
Collecting glass separately in a purple container will reduce contamination levels in single-stream recycling.
All colors of clean glass bottles and jars are accepted in the purple containers.
Glass items not accepted include lamps, light bulbs, ceramics, porcelain, mirrors, windows, and sheet glass.
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| Fairfax County Strategic Plan Questionnaire |
Thank you to everyone who attended the community meetings for our first-ever countywide strategic plan. Couldn't make the meetings? We still want to hear from you! An online questionnaire is open until October 14 and available in 6 languages so you can provide feedback on dozens of draft strategies. There are a lot of questions, so answer as many as you'd like:
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/strategicplan
Whether you are new to Fairfax, have lived here all your life, or are somewhere in between, we want to hear your vision for the future of the Fairfax County. Your input will be critical in helping us identify key priorities.
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| Census 2020: Are You Ready to be Counted? |
Fairfax County is kicking off a countywide effort to get the word out about the 2020 U.S. Census. It is fast approaching and Fairfax County is committed to getting a complete and accurate count on April 1, 2020.
Every 10 years, the U.S. government counts each person living in the country through the Census. More than $675 billion in federal funds go back to state and local governments annually through data collected by the Census. These funds help residents by paying for federal direct student loans, highway planning and construction, Head Start and special education grants, the National School Lunch Program, Medicare and Medicaid and Section 8 subsidies. But for each resident who doesn't respond to the Census, Fairfax County loses $20,000 in potential funding over the course of a decade. That number can really add up if residents don't respond so we're asking every county employee to encourage the residents they interact with to respond to the Census.
How can you help?
- Educate yourself, your agency/department and your customers using the County's Census website.
- Schedule a time at meetings, internal and external, to talk about the Census using the Fairfax County PowerPoint presentation.
- Offer a location where people can use Wi-Fi and public computers to complete the Census.
- Use the County's Census Partner Communications toolkit where you will find flyers in multiple languages that can be posted at your location and at any events your agency hosts.
- Share information on social media.
The county is committed to ensuring an accurate count. You'll continue to hear more about the 2020 Census and Fairfax County's efforts in the coming months. If you have questions or suggestions email [email protected].
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| One Month Until Election Day! |
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n Virginia, there is an election every year, and this year it will be held on Tuesday, November 5! Polls will be open countywide from 6 am to 7 pm. This election will decide the Virginia Senate, House of Delegates, Soil and Water Directors, and seats on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and School Board.
As a Fairfax County resident in Northern Virginia, many elected officials represent you at the federal, state and local levels of government. Check out some "fast facts" about who represents you locally:
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Who Represents You in Fairfax County
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| Halloween in Fairfax |
October is here, which means Halloween is just around the corner! Take
 advantage of all the spooky activities offered around Fairfax County this month. Whether you are looking to be scared silly or relax with the family, there is a Halloween-themed event for you:
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The Fifth Annual Taste of Annandale | October 5
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Come out and meet your neighbors at the Fifth Annual Taste of Annandale. This family-friendly and pet-friendly street festival will be held October 5 from 10 am to 4 pm along Tom Davis Drive in the heart of Annandale, VA. The Taste of Annandale features live music and dance, food trucks, restaurants, a beer garden, 5K race, best-dressed pet contest, chili cook-off, photo booth, games, and a full-program of children's entertainment. There is no charge to attend. For more information, visit tasteofannandale.com.
The certified 5K Race will start at 9:30 a.m. in the Kmart parking lot at 4251 John Marr Drive. Runners can register online here.
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Vendor Forum for Small Businesses | October 10
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Join us at Fairfax County's Vendor Forum and Reverse  Tradeshow on October 10, 2019 from 8:30 am - 2:30 pm. The Vendor Forum is hosted annually by Fairfax County to provide an opportunity for small businesses to interact directly with county procurement representatives. Hosted in conjunction with the Fairfax County Small Business Commission, the Vendor Forum provides an intimate and interactive setting for suppliers to:
- Network with Fairfax County agencies and their large contractors
- Discover marketing and business fundamentals that can help grow your company
- Explore alternative options for funding your business
- Learn how to properly and effectively pursue work with Fairfax County
The Reverse Tradeshow is the heart of the Vendor Forum where Fairfax County agencies and selected contractors are ready to discuss suppliers' capabilities and requirements face to face. Speakers and panel presentations will also be included. Bring your entrepreneurial spirit and learn more about how to grow your business opportunities! For questions, please contact the SBC Staffer.
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| Fall for the Book Literary Festival | October 10-12 |
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The following information is provided by fxva.com
Get out your reading glasses and make some space on your bookshelf - it's time for the annual Fall for the Book Literary Festival!
This year, Fall for the Book will welcome an esteemed lineup of poets, historians, novelists, memoirists, children's authors, YA writers and more at George Mason University and locations around Northern Virginia. Headliners include essayist and novelist,
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (
Americanah,
We Should All Be Feminists)
, novelist and YA author
Rainbow Rowell (
Wayward Son,
Eleanor & Park),
novelist
Delia Owens (
Where the Crawdads Sing),
and true rime writer,
David Grann (
Killers of the Flower Moon,
The Lost City of Z)
. Other featured writers are
David Wallace-Wells
presenting the Beck Environmental Lecture,
Governor Terry McAuliffe
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Senator Janet Howell,
novelist
R.O. Kwon
, true crime writer
Sarah Weinman,
and poets,
Cole Swensen,
Yona Harvey
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Amaud Jamaul Johnson
and
Brian Teare
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all for the Book festival, which runs from October 10-12, 2019, is partnering with the City of Fairfax's Fall Festival on Saturday, October 12 to bring a day of literary and artistic events to audiences of all ages.
Literary Death Match
, a fun, fast-paced literary game show will close the festival on Saturday evening. Fall for the Book is also proud to host the second annual award ceremony for its post-publication book prize for immigrant writers:
The Institute for Immigration Research New American Voices Award
, judged by
Reyna Grande,
Alia Malek,
and
E.C. Osondu.
The three finalists, who will appear at the festival, will be announced this summer.
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| 52nd Annual Clifton Day Festival | October 13 |
One of Northern Virginia's favorite fall events, the Clifton Day Festival, will take place on Sunday, October 13th from 9 am to 5 pm in the scenic town of Clifton.
The 2019 festival will feature a marketplace with  around 150 artisans, antique dealers, vintage sellers and other vendors. Live music, children's activities, pony rides, a beer & wine garden and other delicious food and beverage choices will add to the fun.
Clifton Day is the only day of the year when the train stops in the town. The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) will provide roundtrip train service to Clifton from all stops between Manassas and Rolling Road. The train ride to Clifton is free and the return trip costs $5 per person (children under age two ride free).
The Clifton Day Festival, hosted by the Clifton Betterment Association (CBA), arose from a 1960s revitalization effort for the historic town of Clifton, which had fallen into a state of disrepair since its incorporation in 1902. Residents decided to hold a festival in 1967 as a way to attract the public to the charming place they called home. The annual festival, now in its 52nd year, has been going strong ever since on the Sunday before Columbus Day.
Admission is free. Parking starts at five dollars per car. For more information about Clifton Day, including performance schedules and exhibitor info, visit
www.cliftonday.com or the festival's
Facebook page.
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| Tour de Mount Vernon | October 19 |
The following information is taken from Eventbrite.com.
Join Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck for the 4th annual Tour de Mount Vernon on Saturday October 19, 2019, at 8:30 am, starting and ending at the Workhouse Arts Center.
The Tour de Mount Vernon brings cyclists on a fun ride through the south western portion of the Mount Vernon District and on a scenic route through Fort Belvoir. The route will consist of paved roads, a few parts on paved trails and will have several challenging sections. Ride monitors and Fairfax County Police will be on hand to help with directions and keep everyone safe.
Route Highlights include:
- Fort Belvoir - riding 5 miles on base
- Workhouse Arts Center
- Occoquan Regional Park
- Gunston Hall
- Pohick Bay Regional Park
Register for the event
here!
Volunteers are needed the day before and day of the ride.
Sign up here!
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Civic Associations Supporting the Local Ecosystem
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Every neighborhood has a unique relationship to its surrounding  natural environment. Learn how you can protect local plants and animals in your backyard by attending a Plant NOVA Natives symposium, to be held on October 4 and November 2 on the NVCC campus from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. Details and registration can be found here. The website also contains information on ideal environmental practices, local resources, and examples of what local communities have already accomplished.
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| Fairfax County Podcasts |
Did you know that Fairfax County produces its own podcasts? The County has shows on a variety of topics, including health and safety, emergency preparedness, libraries, and much more! Find the full list of podcasts here: https://soundcloud.com/fairfaxcounty
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| VA-TF1 Recognition |
On October 15, the Board of Supervisors will recognize Virginia Task Force 1 for their aid to the Bahamas following Hurricane Dorian. The task force, a division of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, was initially deployed to Florida and North Carolina before being sent to the Bahamas to assist in post-hurricane clean up and recovery. This program is funded entirely by the federal government and includes the backfilling of positions when team members are deployed.
We could not be prouder of VA-TF1 and encourage you to join the Board of Supervisors in recognizing their heroism at our next meeting.
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Fairfax County Park Authority Wins Fourth Gold Medal!
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In September, the Fairfax County Park Authority was named a Gold Medal Winner at the National Parks and Recreation Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. This marks the fourth time our Park Authority has earned this award. Since 1965, the Gold Medal Awards program has served as a testament to the hard work and dedication of agencies that strive to meet the needs of diverse communities. The Gold Medal is a comprehensive award that looks at the many challenges agencies face and at how they are leveraging resources to meet those challenges. Congratulations to all!
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| Fire Station Open House | October 12 |
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Design & Environmental Achievement Awards | October 22
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On October 22, the recipients of the 2019 Friends of Trees Awards, Environmental Excellence Awards, and James M. Scott Exceptional Design Awards will be honored at the Fairfax County Government Center. You are invited to join us from 7 pm to 9 pm for this unique evening event. The awards will also be televised live on Channel 16, which may be streamed here.
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