Sept. 2, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

It's hard to believe it's the end of summer! It has certainly not been the summer any of us envisioned at the beginning of the year. However, I do hope you and your families were able to find some time to relax and enjoy the many amenities we have in Hunter Mill District, including our beautiful trails and lakes.
 
On a personal note, much of my summer was spent recovering from triple bypass heart surgery, which was an unexpected turn of events for me and my family. The overwhelming number of good wishes was very much appreciated. I am starting to ease back into my duties as your supervisor but I expect it will take another month or so until I am back 100 percent. My staff has done a stellar job of responding to your questions and concerns and I encourage you to continue to reach out to them at huntermill@fairfaxcounty.gov, or 703-478-0283.
 
And since we are coming up on Labor Day weekend, I also want to take a moment to thank the thousands of Fairfax County employees who have worked tirelessly to serve our residents during the pandemic – while also taking care of their families and loved ones under these unique circumstances. While either frontline or behind a desk, our workforce took on the enormous task of going virtual, learning new skills and in many cases learning new jobs. Some examples include our public information officers who have worked 12-hour shifts for several months to provide residents with up-to-date and fast-changing information on a number of communications platforms. Our Department of Information Technology has also been fantastic, successfully steering our 12,000+ workforce through “the world’s largest telework experiment." Our Office of Elections staff have been working long hours to successfully organize the elections earlier this summer (with all regular voting locations fully operational) and plan for an historic Election Day during a pandemic. And the list goes on. It is because of the dedication of our employees that we have continued to be able to serve our constituents and keep our government working for you.
 
And finally, happy back to school day to all the Hunter Mill District students beginning the 2020-2021 school year on Sept. 8. This school year will be challenging for students, parents, teachers and support staff and the Board of Supervisors will continue to support the School Board as they make the hard calls on educating our children during the pandemic. 

Respectfully,
Walter
Today's COVID-19 Updates (Sept. 2)

Current Number of Cases in the Fairfax Health District
  • Daily reported case information for the Fairfax Health District: here and scroll down to get to ZIP Code data.
  • Daily reported case information throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia: here and ZIP Code data look for Data Download bar.

COVID-19 Case Information Chart (as of publication on Sept. 2)
NOTE: We have combined the trend graphs with the chart information so you can view the available data in one place.
Early Voting Begins Sept. 18
Voting for the November 2020 Election Will Soon be Underway!

Beginning Sept. 18:
Voting for the Nov. 3 election starts in less than three weeks on Sept. 18 when early voting begins at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. Check here for hours; Saturday hours begin on Oct. 14.

Beginning Oct. 14:
Fourteen satellite early voting locations open countywide Oct. 14. Check here for locations and hours. The North County Government Center in Reston is a satellite early voting location; hours beginning Oct. 14 can be found here.

Important note: Voting hours at the Fairfax County Government Center are different from hours at the satellite locations, so check here before you head out to vote.

Please wear a mask and follow social distancing guidelines at the voting locations. Our election officers will provide guidance to enable you to vote safely and efficiently. Although a photo ID is no longer required, you will need to bring an acceptable ID. Find examples here.

More information, including mail-in absentee voting: Three Ways to Vote in the 2020 Presidential Election

If you have questions or concerns, do not delay in contacting the Fairfax County Office of Elections at voting@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Public Safety Update
Hunters Woods Neighborhood Coalition (HWNC)
HWNC is a working group of county agencies, nonprofits, businesses and neighbors who collaborate to share resources, information, skills, and understanding toward the goal of sustaining a safe and welcoming neighborhood in the Hunters Woods Community. The Reston District Police Station’s crime prevention specialist works collaboratively with the HWNC team to educate Reston Community Center staff, residents and businesses on best practices in public safety. The Reston Hunters Woods Neighborhood Coalition brings together resources to prevent crime, create a supportive and welcoming environment, and encourage people to live, work, and visit the Hunters Woods’ community. To learn more visit the Hunters Woods Neighborhood Coalition Facebook page.

Safety Message from Fairfax County Police Department
With all the rain we’ve had recently, bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists are reminded to be cautious when in heavily treed areas. Tree limbs can grow weak and snap, and often fall even days later. Be aware of your surroundings and use caution.  
Land Use and Transportation
Hunter Mill District Transportation Advisory Council (TAC) Update
The HMD TAC meets quarterly on community transportation issues. Topics include road and transit projects and programs (including Fairfax Connector and Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project), trails and sidewalks, legislative and funding information, and a comprehensive project status list. For additional information or to be added to the HMD TAC email list contact: Shyamali.Hauth@fairfaxcounty.gov

You can watch the latest HMD TAC meeting held on July 29. Below are approximate times of specific briefings by WMATA, Fairfax County Department of Transportation and the Virginia Department of Transportation:
  • 00:05 WMATA Briefing
  • 00:18 FCDOT Projects Briefing
  • 00:38 Soapstone Connector
  • 01:13 Pedestrian Improvements
  • 01:34 Wiehle Ave and W&OD Pedestrian Crossing
  • 01:36 Foxmill Pinecrest Light
  • 01:45 Silver Line Phase II
  • 01:54 Hunter Mill Road One Lane Bridge
  • 01:56 Route 7 Widening
  • 01:58 In-Depth Paving Program
The next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 28 from 8 to 10 a.m. More information.

Upcoming Land Use Meeting Reminders:

Reston Comprehensive Plan Study Task Force Meeting on Sept. 14, 7 to 9 p.m.
To learn more about the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study and the task force, please visit the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study web page. The next scheduled meeting is Monday, Sept. 14, 7 to 9 p.m. Details and the agenda will be found here. The meeting will be 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 listen to the meeting on your phone, you may call 1-408-418-9388 and use access code: 173 364 9854. This is also the number to use if accessing TTY 711. (Please note each meeting has a unique link and call-in information.) You will also be able to watch a live stream of the meeting on YouTube Live

Wiehle Avenue Crossing Study Group Virtual Meeting, Sept. 17, 7:30 p.m.
Wiehle Pedestrian Crossing Study Group virtual meeting is Thursday, Sept. 17, 7 to 9 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 1-408-418-9388 and use Access Code:173 748 0400. This is also the number to use if accessing TTY 711.
 
Joint Reston Planning & Zoning and Hunter Mill Land Use Committee Virtual Meeting, Sept. 21, 7:30 p.m.
County staff will present the Zoning Ordinance Modernization (zMOD) Consolidated Draft. The draft represents a consolidation of the previously released installments, with revisions as a result of feedback received throughout the process and additional work by staff as described in Attachment 1. 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 1-408-418-9388 and use Access Code:129 033 8635. This is also the number to use if accessing TTY 711. Learn more.
Low-Cost Rabies Clinics
The county's Department of Animal Sheltering announced dates for the next three curbside, no contact, low-cost rabies vaccination clinics:
  • Sunday, Sept. 13
  • Sunday, Oct. 18
  • Sunday, Dec. 6
Dogs, cats, and ferrets will be able to be vaccinated on each of these clinic dates. Pre-registration is required. Learn more.
4 Things to Know Today
Fairfax County Government Labor Day Schedule
Most county facilities and services will be closed on Monday, Sept. 7 in observance of Labor Day. However, some facilities are open and schedules vary, as some offices continue to feature reduced hours in response to the pandemic. Additionally, the county government is providing many essential services online, by phone and by mail.

Disabilities Rights and Resources Virtual Expo is Sept. 16
The disAbility Law Center of Virginia will virtually host its first ever disAbility Rights and Resources Expo on Sept. 16, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Learn more.

Town of Vienna to Purchase Faith Baptist Church Property
Vienna Town Council recently approved the $5.5 million purchase of an approximately three-acre property at 301 Center Street S; the site has been home to Faith Baptist Church since the mid-1950s. Learn more.

Metro's SmarTrip now available on iPhone and Apple Watch
Metro riders can now add a SmarTrip card to their iPhone and Apple Watch. Riders can hold their device near the card reader to pay anywhere SmarTrip is accepted: all 91 Metrorail stations in DC, Maryland and Virginia; all Metro parking garages and lots; all Metrobus routes; and all regional bus providers, including Fairfax Connector. SmarTrip on iPhone and Apple Watch provides riders a "touch-free" experience and a safer way to pay. Learn more.
Stay Informed and In Touch
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn
703-478-0283, TTY 711