March 5, 2021
Dear Providence Residents,

The FY 2022 advertised budget was presented on February 23rd. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought drastic impacts in many areas, including health, equity, schools, mental health and the economy. The impact was felt by so many families, residents and small businesses in Fairfax County.

Due to the COVID-19 impact, this budget presentation looks very different than past years. There is still a lot of uncertainty about the breadth of the recovery over the coming year. Your input on the budget is very important. I encourage all of our residents to join our Virtual Budget Town Hall on Monday, March 8th at 7pm. You can join on Facebook, live stream, or cable channel 16. Please submit questions to Providence@fairfaxcounty.gov.

On Tuesday, I chaired the Fairfax County Health and Human Services Committee Meeting. We received a vaccine update from the Health Department and saw a presentation on the Fairfax vaccine equity strategy. You can watch the full meeting HERE. We continue to work with our residents to help with vaccine registration. There is a lot more work to do and we look forward to opening the registration to a larger group in the future. As of this morning, 282,256 individuals have registered with Fairfax County and 102,169 remain on the waiting list. You can view the vaccine and registration data dashboard HERE.

You can find the following Providence District updates in this week's edition of the newsletter:

  • Virtual Budget Town Hall
  • Providence District Paving & Re-Striping Virtual Meeting
  • Expanding Vaccine Partnerships
  • Vaccine Appointment Transportation
  • Metro's FY2022 Budget
  • Transportation Update
  • End to Plastic Bags for Yard Waste
  • Free Energy-Efficiency Upgrades from LEAP
  • Climate Planning Public Surveys
  • FCPA Dog Park Study
  • How to Start a Veggie Garden
  • Featured Event
 
I hope this newsletter finds you and your family safe and well.
 
With Gratitude,
Supervisor Dalia Palchik

Virtual Budget Town Hall
Please join us for the Virtual Providence Community Budget Town Hall
Co-hosted with the Providence District Council
 
When: Monday, March 8th at 7:00pm
 
How to Watch: Live Stream, Cable Channel 16, or Facebook Live.
 
Submit Questions: Email Providence@fairfaxcounty.gov, or submit questions to the Facebook Live Chat, or phone in at 703-324-1114
 
Participants:
  • Supervisor Dalia Palchik, Providence District, Fairfax County
  • Karl Frisch, Providence District School Board Representative
  • Joe Mondoro, Chief Financial Officer, Fairfax County
  • Leigh Burden, Assistant Superintendent Department of Financial Services, FCPS
  • Jeff Agnew, Providence District Council President 
 
 
Providence District Paving & Re-Striping Virtual Meeting
Online Community Meeting Scheduled for March 10 at 6:30 p.m.; Comment Period Closes March 24, 2021

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will hold a virtual public meeting on proposed paving and restriping changes in the Providence District Wednesday, March 10, at 6:30 p.m. Community members can learn about VDOT's repaving program, proposed striping changes and provide feedback.

The VDOT repaving program offers an affordable opportunity to provide additional bike lanes in the county. This year, VDOT and FCDOT are proposing new lanes on Tobin Rd, Borge St, Bushman Dr, Pimmit Dr, and Idyl Lane.


For those who cannot attend the meeting on March 10, the video of the presentation will be available after the event.
Road maintenance-related comments (e.g., drainage issues, missing signage, signal repair, walkway repair and sight distance issues due to vegetation overgrowth) should be submitted through the myVDOT portal: https://my.vdot.virginia.gov/. If you would like to request road repairs, please follow the "I need a road repaired" link on the VDOT portal or call 1-800-FOR-ROAD (1-800-367-7623).

Striping-related comments (e.g., marked parking lanes, crosswalks, and/or sight distance issues due to parked vehicles) can be submitted electronically to FCDOT.
Expanding Vaccine Partnerships
Giant Pharmacy has agreed to partner formally with the Fairfax Health Department to vaccinate people who have been invited to schedule an appointment through our scheduler.
 
That partnership, which began with four sites, has now expanded to eight. As a reminder, these stores will serve as alternatives to County facility sites. Residents in our existing queue who are being offered an appointment by the County when their turn comes up, will have the option of choosing which Giant location. Below are the addresses of the stores that are now part of our efforts. Again, Giant will be working off the County's registration list, please do not show up at these locations without an appointment and we hope to soon add more locations.

  • 7501 Huntsman Boulevard, Springfield
  • 6364A Springfield Plaza, Springfield
  • 5740 Union Mill Road, Clifton
  • 5870 Kingstowne Boulevard, Alexandria
  • 3480 S. Jefferson Street, Falls Church
  • 7137 Columbia Pike, Annandale
  • 2425 Centreville Road, Herndon
  • 6200 Little River Turnpike, Alexandria
Vaccine Appointment Transportation
Fairfax County has been working hard to identify a number of options for residents who need assistance getting to their COVID-19 vaccination appointments.
 
We've published a list of community partners who provide transportation assistance to older adults in a new blog post, which you can view here.
 
The County is also providing free rides via taxi companies to anyone who does not have access to their own transportation. To schedule your vaccine transportation, call the Health Department Call Center at 703-324-7404, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
 
Please only sign up for these services once your vaccination appointment has been scheduled.
Metro's FY2022 Budget
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Residents are reminded to submit comments and participate in the Metro annual budget process.  Comments may be made here through March 16, 2021, and four virtual public hearings will be held March 8 - 10, 2021 where information on how to access the hearings is found at the preceding link. The Metro Board will adopt a final budget in April. Information about Metro’s proposed budget may be found here.
Transportation Updates
Fairfax County launches ActiveFairfax Transportation Plan!
 
This plan will establish a vision and a roadmap for implementation of safe, convenient, and enjoyable streets, sidewalks, bike facilities, and trails in Fairfax County, to combine and update the 2014 Bicycle Master Plan and the Countywide Trails Plan, as well as provide policy, program and implementation recommendations.
 
Residents are invited to subscribe to the newsletter at this link. To provide your input (accepted through May 1, 2021) and participate in the development of the ActiveFairfax Transportation Plan, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/transportation/bike-walk/activefairfax.
 
There are four ways to get involved:
 
1. Take a survey: Help us understand how you currently use active transportation – to travel to a destination, for recreation or exercise, or just for fun – and share your ideas on the future of active transportation in Fairfax County. If you would like to request a paper copy of this survey, email activefairfax@fairfaxcounty.gov, or call 877-5600, TTY 711.
2. Map your ideas: Add information into two interactive maps on destinations, barriers to active travel, and missing links in the active transportation network.
3. Share your thoughts: Let us hear from you! Send the Active Transportation Team an email activefairfax@fairfaxcounty.gov, or call 703-877-5600, TTY 711, to share your ideas.
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Virtual Public Meeting March 18, 2021 on Bike and Pedestrian Improvements at the Vienna Metro Station
 
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will host a virtual information meeting from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 18, 2021. A short presentation by the VDOT team will start the meeting, and the last hour will be reserved for questions and answers. Registration and submitting comments through March 29, 2021 may be found at this link.
I-66 Construction
 
Two-way traffic will travel in a single lane in each direction on I-66 West at Route 50 during overnight hours through March 5 for bridge beam installation. Details
 
During overnight hours through March 5, I-66 East and West approaching Waples Mill Road will be reduced to one travel lane each way with traffic stoppages for overhead bridge demolition. Details
Plastic Bags for Yard Work Has Ended
New requirements went into effect on March 1, 2021 with a grace period through April 19, 2021.
 
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Free Energy-Efficiency Upgrades from LEAP
LEAP provides weatherization programs for income- and age-qualifying customers throughout Virginia. Save on your utility bills and increase your comfort at home with free energy-efficiency upgrades from LEAP!
 
Qualified homeowners and renters can receive a free energy assessment from our expert analysts and may be eligible for free energy-saving measures including heat pump replacements, attic insulation, and much more. Contact LEAP or submit an interest form to see if you qualify!

Climate Planning Public Surveys
Three brief surveys are now online to capture your feedback on climate planning in Fairfax County. The county is developing its first-ever Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan, or CECAP, and is seeking public input to inform the goals, strategies, and actions the plan will include. Now through March 14, you can complete very short surveys on energy issues, transportation, development, and waste issues, and on climate planning in general. Find the surveys here.
Fairfax County Park Authority Dog Park Study
The Dog Park Study Draft Report has been completed and we want your feedback! The draft report can be accessed through the link to the FCPA webpage here. A comment box has been provided with instructions for commenting on different sections of the report and comments will be accepted until April 23, 2021. Comments will also be accepted via email at Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.  

A virtual public information meeting will be held on March 23, 2021 at 7 p.m. to provide an overview of the study findings and answer any questions. The optional meeting registration with instructions for access can be found here.

How to Start a Veggie Garden
On the evenings of March 16 and March 17, the Fairfax Food Council’s Urban Agriculture Work Group will present workshops in English and Spanish about how to start a vegetable garden. Join these two local food growing experts from 7-8:30pm as they share their techniques and experiences with creating beautiful and productive garden beds using local resources. Thanks to a collaborative partnership of the Food Council’s Urban Ag Work Group, Virginia Cooperative Extension and Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture, these workshops are open to all and will be available upon registration through the Zoom platform. Click the link to register.
https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYsdOihqDorE9Nz2nwwSVkC21KDADXJMnbj
Featured Event

Celebrate Women's History Month with Bessie Coleman

“Fly Bessie Fly,” will be presented as a one-woman virtual show on Monday, March 15 at 2 p.m, featuring Daisy Nelson Century of the American Historical Theatre. Her presentation will bring to life the pioneering African American aviator Bessie Coleman, a woman who didn't give up! You can register for this event here.
Contact Us
We want to hear from you! Please reach out to us with questions, comments or just to say hello.
 
Office Phone: (703) 560-6946
 
Email us HERE if you would like events included in our newsletter or you would like a member of our team to join your HOA meeting.
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