Community Champions

Marvin Goldsmith Owner of Pro Image Barbershop in Lorton


Back in August, I attended the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Back-To-School free haircut event at the Gum Springs Community Center. One of the many volunteers cutting hair was Marvin Goldsmith, owner of Pro Image Barbershop located in Lorton. Marvin has owned Pro Image Barbershop since September of 2019, but previously owned Marvin's Barber and Beauty in Alexandria for 17 years. He has been involved with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Back-To-School haircuts since the very beginning and just so happens to be the only barber who has never missed the event.


I had a wonderful time chatting with Marvin and learning about why he loves his job and why he continues to participate in the free haircut events year after year. He told me that when he was a child his community didn't have access to free events such as these and this inspires him to provide for the children here. This is why Marvin will always stay till every child has received a haircut, even if it means staying late. Marvin loves connecting with everyone who sits in his chair and learning about their lives. His favorite question to ask the children is "if you were an animal what would you be and why?" Marvin's answer is always the same, if he were an animal he would be an eagle because they can fly above the trees and soar. Thank you Marvin for going the extra mile and soaring for the community!

Be The Good - Little Free Food Pantries


In 2020, the Marchland family started a small food drive here in the Mount Vernon District to teach their four young children about ways they could serve their neighbors during the pandemic. There was an overwhelming outpouring of support and generosity from the community, which led to the creation of Be The Good Project, a grassroots-fueled 501(c)(3) non-profit with a simple mission: to connect volunteers with safe and easy ways to help feed our neighbors. Two and a half years later, Be The Good offers volunteers three primary outreach opportunities to help: making seasonal non-perishable care packages, making sandwiches for the homeless, and filling the Little Free Food Pantries with non-perishable food. 


In 2021, Be The Good started the Little Free Food Pantry program in an effort to provide a discrete, low-barrier resource to access emergency non-perishable food, 24/7. The little pantries are stocked weekly by generous volunteers, who check the pantries and fill them with unexpired non-perishable foods. Each pantry has a simple message: “take what you need, leave what you can.”


There are currently 25 Be The Good Little Free Food Pantries planted across VA, DC, and MD. Three of those are located in the Mount Vernon District at the Gum Springs Community Center, Stratford Landing ES, and Hollin Meadows ES. Be The Good hopes to plant a few more little pantries this fall — including one at Bucknell ES and here at the Mount Vernon Governmental Center! Thank you Marchland family for helping those in our community! Check out ways to volunteer.

How a Group of Moms Turned a Virginia Trailer Park into a Village


The heat was unforgiving and the mosquitoes were biting, but the women who filled the foldout chairs in Imelda Castro’s backyard didn’t seem bothered. During the pandemic, that small strip of greenery tucked behind a Northern Virginia trailer park has been a haven for them. It has served as a classroom, an office and a community play space. That backyard is where the women learned from a health-care worker what medical services their children are entitled to receive. That backyard is where a DJ played music on Día del Niño, Day of the Child, and the community invited a police officer to take a swing at a piñata. “She had never hit one before!” said a woman who captured that moment on video. That backyard is where, every Friday, the women form an assembly line and empty with impressive efficiency a truck filled with fresh produce and other goods, and then make sure everyone in the trailer park who needs food gets it. Read more from the Washington Post...

Upcoming Events

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in Fairfax County


Celebrated from September 15 through October 15, since its expansion in 1988, Hispanic Heritage Month honors the historic and cultural achievements of Hispanic Americans and celebrates their contributions that have influenced the diversity of our society. Here in Fairfax County, individuals of Hispanic descent make up 16.5% of the population and the influence of this beautiful cultures on our destination is reflected in the cuisine, activities, and events we enjoy throughout the year. There are many ways you can experience and celebrate the many Hispanic cultures and heritage over the next few weeks here in Fairfax County and throughout the region. Learn more...

National Drive Electric Day


September 25 from 1 - 4 p.m.

George Mason University

4400 University Drive Lot C

Fairfax, VA 22030


At Fairfax’s Drive Electric Day discover different types of electric cars and speak with owners. Learn from owner experience about what it's like to own and drive an electric car. Some cars will even be available for test driving. Check out the list of the many cars registered to attend the event and make sure to RSVP. Learn more...

Healthy Together Fairfax


Healthy Together Fairfax is a fun (and free) interactive event for the community focused on healthy and active living. The event takes place on Sunday, October 2, 12-4 p.m. at Lee District Park and includes free health screenings, access to community services and resources, fitness classes, hands-on activities, and workshops for all ages. Learn more...

Arcadia Volunteer Opportunities


Arcadia Farm for Sustainable Agriculture is looking for volunteers for their upcoming autumn events. For those unfamiliar, Arcadia is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a more equitable and sustainable local food system. Some examples of ways they need help include, baking cakes, setting tables, making flower crowns and helping mount the Fall Funtacular! A description of each volunteer opportunity is in the sign-up link.


  • Arcadia Farm Dinner: Sunday, October 2
  • Snallygaster, craft beer festival: Saturday, October 8
  • Arcadia's Fall Funtacular: Sunday, October 16
  • Arcadia's First Annual Farm 5K: Sunday November 13-17
  • Winter Solstice Labyrinth Illumination: December 22

History of Public Schools in the Mount Vernon District


On Oct. 4, the Mount Vernon Regional Historical Society will present the "History of Public Schools in the Mount Vernon District." Jeff Clark will be the presenter at the Main Meeting Room of the Sherwood Hall Library from 7 to 9 p.m. The presentation will feature photos of old schools from 1870 to 1945.

STEAMOLOGY STEM Fest


Do you have an elementary or middle schooler in your life? STEAMOLOGY is hosting their annual STEM Fest on October 8 at Walt Whitman Middle School. The festival will be from 12 - 5 p.m. and will have many free activities related to STEM, including robotic coding, experiments and more! Register today...

Tour de Mount Vernon


Join us for the 7th Annual Community Bike Ride on Saturday, October 22 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 southern and central portions of the Mount Vernon District including a scenic route through Fort Belvoir. The route consists of paved roads, paved trails and has several challenging sections. Ride monitors and Fairfax County Police help with directions and keep everyone safe. The rides ends with music, famous sweet potato chili, beverages, fun and comradery! Registration is open! Learn more...

District Information

Red Flag Law


On July 1, 2020, the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Emergency Substantial Risk Order (ESRO) law, commonly referred to as a “red flag law,” went into effect, making Virginia the 19th state to enact such legislation. ESRO provides necessary procedural safeguards to ensure that no firearm is removed without due process while ensuring that tragedies are not repeated. Virginia’s ESRO law prevents individuals who show signs of being a threat to themselves or others from purchasing, possessing or transporting any kind of firearm. If you know of someone with a gun acting in a way that concerns you, speak up to prevent a gun tragedy. 


The Speak Up poster below was inserted inside 334 Fairfax Connector buses to help prevent future gun tragedy. Learn more about the Red Flag Law.

In-Person Early Voting


Here at the Mount Vernon Governmental Center there will be early in-person voting available to any registered Fairfax County voter from September 23 - November 5.

Hours of operation will include:

  • Weekdays from 1 p.m. - 7 p.m.
  • Three Saturdays, September 24, October 29, and November 5 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  • One Sunday, Oct. 30 from 1 - 5 p.m.

To learn more...

Lorton Community Center and Lorton Library


The Lorton Community Center (LCC) and Lorton Library facility will open its doors Monday, October 10, with a grand opening celebration scheduled for Saturday, October 15. The new opening date of October 10 was shifted slightly from a previously-announced date of September 26 to allow some final facility work to be completed. The new facility co-locates an expanded library branch and new community center next to the renovated Lorton Park. The community center also provides space for the Lorton Senior Center and Lorton Community Action Center (LCAC)


LCAC continues to provide its regularly scheduled food distributions Tuesdays from 5 - 7 p.m. and Thursdays from 9  11 a.m. Beginning September 27, these distributions will move from their current location to the LCC site. Between September 27 and October 10, food distributions will be drive-through for clients. Once the LCC opens October 10, LCAC distributions will shift from drive-through to in-person at the new food pantry. 

Personal Property Tax

 

Don't forget, payments for your Personal Property Tax bill are due on October 5! About 90% of vehicles have gained in value from 2022 as compared to 12% in 2021. Due to the unprecedented increase in vehicle valuations this year, I am pleased to have worked with my Board colleagues to bring you a 15% reduction in your vehicle fees. I know in many cases, this is still not enough to offset the higher fees, but it is what we were able to do within the law. The Department of Tax Administration has put together an FAQ that can be found here. Payments can be made in your My Fairfax portal. Learn more...


Kite Flyers Reminded of Dangers of String, Filament Left Behind


Flying a kite seems simple, but there are strings attached to this fun activity. If you fly a kite and leave behind kite string filament, you may be responsible for injuring or trapping wildlife. You may also impede park maintenance and damage equipment, and you may even potentially injure people who get tangled in kite string. This summer, there have been groups and individuals flying kites above Laurel Hill Park, the Central Green and Laurel Hill Golf Club. Generally, kite flying is a welcomed activity and fairly benign; however, over the past few months, several incidents have occurred that cause concern.


The Fairfax County Park Authority is in the process of developing signage to communicate kite-flying rules and safety information, providing more trash cans in the area, and trying to contact any groups or individuals who may be flying kites at Laurel Hill Park. Once signs are in place, those witnessing violations of the kite-flying rules will be asked to contact police at the non-emergency number 703-691-2131. Learn more...

Spotted Lanternfly Egg Mass "Search Scrape and Destroy" Underway in Fairfax County


Spotted lanternflies are non-native invasive species and have now been spotted in Fairfax. With the help of Fairfax County residents, it may be possible to slow the spread of the spotted lanternfly. Fairfax County Forest Pest Management is asking residents to ‘search-scrape-and destroy’ spotted lanternfly egg masses.


Adult females lay their inconspicuous egg masses in September and through the first few hard frosts of November. The egg masses are covered in a light gray colored wax that looks like mud when it dries. They are laid on the woody parts of trees, and shrubs, as well as stone, metal, concrete, and other surfaces so it is a good idea to look for them on all yard objects and vehicles. Learn more...

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