Continued COVID Older Adults Response Plan – At Tuesday’s Board meeting, the Board unanimously approved my joint motion with Supervisor Walkinshaw (Braddock District) to move forward with short term initiatives to address the continued needs of older adults during the pandemic.

With a significant aging population in Fairfax County, we have felt the devastating effects of the pandemic on our older adult community acutely. Through June roughly 75 percent of COVID deaths in Fairfax County were from long term care facilities that serve our older adults. To date, over 80 percent of COVID deaths in Fairfax County have been adults 65 and older and over 95 percent of all deaths have been adults 50 and older. For those older adults who have not contracted the virus, the pandemic has exacerbated the challenges they were already facing, including physical and mental health issues. This is a tragedy that cannot go unaddressed.

In July, I asked the Board to develop a plan to further address the critical issues facing our older adults during the pandemic. County staff facilitated multiple workgroups and focus groups with 50+ Community Ambassadors, the Fairfax Area Commission on Aging, village coordinators, the Health Department as well as medical and mental health professionals from Inova, County staff, nonprofit partners, and community members. The plan was developed from this feedback and input.

The three primary needs they identified for older adults were general wellness, lack of technology access, and social isolation. With their input, the plan includes short term initiatives to better serve our older adult community through the remainder of the pandemic. In addition to these initiatives, this plan includes a comprehensive list of the continued services that county staff and partners are offering. Specifically the lead agency: the Department of Family Services’ Fairfax Area Agency on Aging, as well as the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, the Fairfax County Health Department, the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, Fairfax County Department of Fire and Rescue, the Department of Housing and Community Development, Service Source and other non-profits have executed providing services, supports and advocacy since the beginning of the pandemic. 

All these partners and county staff have worked tirelessly and quickly since the beginning of the pandemic to stand up programs that help our older adults. This plan adds on to their efforts filling in gaps for our most vulnerable older adults during the ongoing pandemic. 

Addressing Unemployment Office Concerns – Over the last year, our region has lost a significant number of jobs, especially within our hospitality and service industry. These job losses have put many residents through turmoil as they try to care for themselves and their families during a pandemic. When these residents have tried to apply for unemployment, they have been met with a bureaucratic nightmare while waiting for their claim to be approved or simply waiting for a response. In November, I asked the Board to submit a letter to the Governor’s office asking him to direct the resources necessary to address unemployment claims timelier.

This issue has continued from April through October to the point where Virginia has been ranked among the worst states in the nation for quickly reviewing unemployment claims. Many residents have reached out to my office to ask us to advocate for a response from the state. Unfortunately, conditions do not seem to be improving and there is potential for a new round of layoffs as we approach the winter months.

The letter to the Governor’s office will include our concern about the upcoming winter months and the potential for significant additional job losses that could cause many to rely on the prompt processing of their unemployment claims. My hope is that fewer will have need for unemployment help, but as we try to recover from the pandemic our residents need a faster response from the state office. 

Holiday Lights Competition - During the ongoing pandemic, I have been amazed at how residents have responded with creativity and ingenuity to keep a sense of community. From drive by birthday celebrations, to chalk messages for walkers, to bears in windows for schoolchildren, and Halloween decorations taken to a new level, our community has adapted and come together despite social distancing. As we discussed this in my office, we brainstormed how we could share some of this creativity and ingenuity with the community at large as we enter the holiday season.

Beginning December 1^st, my office will be facilitating a Holiday Lights Competition. Residents with a Fairfax County address can submit a photo of their outdoor holiday display that will then be voted on through an online survey. Gift cards of $100 to our local restaurants will be awarded for the following categories: Most Creative, Simple Elegance, Best Use of Theme, Supervisor’s Pick, and Community Pick. 

To enter simply:

*No submission addresses will be shared publicly. The survey will only include a picture of the holiday display and display title*

To vote on your favorite submissions, visit this page beginning December 17th.

All photo submissions will be due by December 16^th and the survey to select the winners will open December 17^th. Winners will be announced by December 23^rd. Throughout the month, I will provide updates and highlights on my Facebook page as well as my newsletter. 

Springfield Land Use Committee Meeting: Autumn Willow, December 8 - Next Tuesday, December 8, the Springfield Land Use Committee will be meeting virtually to hear the Autumn Willow case. There will be opportunity for public input and questions from the community about this project. To request meeting login details, please email Michael Perez at michael.perez@fairfaxcounty.gov 

Prince William County, in conjunction with the Fairfax County Department of Transportation, invites you to attend a virtual informational session regarding the Route 28 Bypass project on Dec. 7, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. This approximately $300 million infrastructure project, one of the largest in the history of Prince William County, will reduce traffic congestion, improve travel reliability and address other transportation challenges in the area.

The meeting will inform residents of both counties about the project background, efforts to date, and the current status, focusing on proposed concepts for the Route 28 Bypass connection and tie-in point to the existing Route 28 in Fairfax County.

The Prince William County Department of Transportation (PWCDOT) will host information sessions on the broader Route 28 Bypass project and address topics specific to Prince William County in the near future.

The public is invited to ask questions at the conclusion of the presentation and to provide feedback.

For access to the virtual meeting, visit the project webpage .(The project team will record the meeting and presentation and post both at this webpage as well.)

Mason Master Plan Engagement Session, December 8 Interested in the future of George Mason University? GMU will be holding its next Master Plan Engagement Session on Tuesday, December 8.

To access the meeting, please use the login details below:

Tuesday, December 8

1:00 - 2:30 pm

Event Link: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/91576601175

Made in Fairfax: Your Holiday Gift Guide Looking for memorable gifts that will also help support local, small businesses in Fairfax County? Look no further – the Made in Fairfax Holiday Gift guide has gifts for every occasion: https://www.fxva.com/blog/post/made-in-fairfax-holiday-gift-guide/?preview=true&guid=db954291-6220-4c30-ac37-ff42b839d659 

COVID-19 and Flu Testing Available through INOVA If you would like to get tested for COVID-19 or the Flu, INOVA currently offers testing through vehicle-side testing and its respiratory clinics. The tests may also be accessed by visiting their urgent care clinics. For more information, please refer to the graphic below or visit this link.

Upcoming Low-Cost Rabies Vaccination Clinic A no contact, low-cost rabies vaccination clinic will be available through the Fairfax County Animal Shelter on Sunday, December 6. Pet owners may bring dogs, cats, and ferrets for their vaccinations. Because there is a high demand for this clinic, pre-registration is required. To sign up and for more information, please click on this link.

New PPP Loan Forgiveness Information The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Treasury Department has released a simpler loan forgiveness application for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $50,000 or less. This action streamlines the PPP forgiveness process to provide financial and administrative relief.

JCA 50+ Virtual Job Fair in Fairfax Are you a 50+ jobseeker or looking to transition to a new job? The Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington will be hosting its virtual Fairfax County job fair on December 4, 2020. There will be opportunities to network and attend career workshops. For more information, please see the flyer below or click on this link.

Oliver is a super playful dog that needs a caring home that can accommodate his unique background! Oliver is nearly 2 years old and weighs 90 pounds. His previous owners could not take care of his medical needs, so he is looking for a new family that can! Oliver has a history of seizures and requires medication to manage them. He’s a very friendly dog and needs a special owner that can go the extra mile to make sure he takes his medication and stays healthy. To meet Oliver and schedule an in-person visit click here