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Meet Community Champion - Barbara Taylor
The Mount Vernon District is filled with people who make a difference every day, big and small. Barbara Taylor or "Mrs. Barbara," as the students call her, has been been living and working in our community for over 50 years, spreading joy everywhere she goes! Mrs. Barbara is currently a beloved Fairfax County Public Schools Crossing Guard for Waynewood Elementary School and Carl Sandburg Middle School.
When she first moved to the community she began working as a meat wrapper at Giant Foods in Beacon Hill and worked there for 30 years! She ultimately decided to leave her job and retire at Giant Foods to help her mother. But as her mother's health improved, she decided she wasn't done working just yet. In 1999, Mrs. Barbara began working at Bucknell Elementary School as a crossing guard and loved every minute of it. When her great grandson began at Waynewood Elementary School about 5 years later, she decided to switch schools to see him more and even took on the role at Carl Sandburg Middle School.
Mrs. Barbara has been working as a crossing guard now for 24 years and between the two schools, has been "loving life." She has no plans to retire anytime soon and feels like she has truly found her calling. The students or "babies" as she calls them, are "so kind and [she] has been fortunate enough to create great rapport with them." She says they are "good and respectable kids and this work has been an absolute joy."
In her free time, Mrs. Barbara is an avid bowler with a local senior bowling league and she loves to travel and visit new places. Barbara Taylor has been a shining star in our community and we are very lucky to have someone who cares so deeply about the safety of our students! Thank you, Mrs. Barbara for all you do!
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Community Information & Events | |
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Early In-Person Voting Begins & New Handicap Door at the Mount Vernon Governmental Center
Last week, new handicap doors were installed at my office. This is a great new addition which came in time for the start of early in-person voting which began here at the Mount Vernon Governmental Center today, Friday, September 22. Mail-in ballots will be sent out about the same time. In-person voting and ballot drop box times at our governmental center are:
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Weekdays: 1 - 7 p.m.
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Saturdays (Sept. 23, Oct. 28, Nov. 4): 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
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Sunday (Oct. 29): 1 - 5 p.m.
Learn more.
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Supervisor Storck & Crime Solvers Shredding Event
Saturday, September 30, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Walt Whitman Middle School, 2500 Parkers Lane
Please join me, Crime Solvers and the Mount Vernon District Police Station for this highly requested FREE shred event. This event is only open to Fairfax County residents - identification will be checked. Requirements for the event include:
Accepted
- Residential material of a sensitive nature such as tax documents, financial records, etc. (Please recycle junk mail and magazines through your normal collection service.)
- Up to three, 15″ x 12″ x 10″ boxes of paper per vehicle.
Prohibited
- Binders of any type (3-ring, plastic, spiral, metal)
- Plastic document covers
- Wet or moist paper
- Hanging file folders with metal support bars
- Metal binder clips
- Electronic media including computer disks and diskettes or CDs
- Books, either hardback or paperback
- Credit cards
- Magazines, catalogs and newspapers (unless just the page with the address)
- Film or photographs
Fairfax County will not shred documents for businesses - even if documents are delivered by an employee who is a County resident. These events are only for residents to destroy sensitive material they have from their home. Learn more.
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Car Tax Payment are Due October 5: What You Need to Know
As with real estate, Virginia law requires that Fairfax County assess personal property (i.e. vehicles) based on its fair market value. While overall Fairfax County vehicle values as of January 1, 2023 have declined 9.8%, on average, from the 2022 values, they remain elevated. To help vehicle owners, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved 10% tax relief for personal property taxes as part of their FY 2024 Adopted budget. This will be accomplished by assessing vehicles at only 90% of their market value rather than the normal 100%. This option is provided for the County to ensure the assessments do not exceed actual fair market value due to unusual or extenuating circumstances and when an assessment ratio lower than 100% may reasonably be expected to determine actual fair market value. This is the second consecutive year that Fairfax County leaders have taken action. Because relief is already applied, you will not see a separate line on your bill that shows the reduction.
To get a better understanding of the vehicle tax and what options may be available to you for relief, I encourage you to review the Department of Tax Administration (DTA)’s FAQ page. If you believe your assessment is inaccurate, there is an appeal process. Learn more.
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Tropical System to Bring Wet and Windy Weather this Weekend
Tropical cyclone activity approaching the Mid-Atlantic area will bring with it severe weather and heavy rainfall this evening through the weekend. The National Weather Service forecasts with a high degree of confidence that the weather in Fairfax County, and the Northern Virginia region, from Friday night until Sunday morning will include heavy rain, high winds and cool temperatures. Learn more.
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Climate Action: Local Government and School Collaboration Webinar Recording
I was pleased to be a key speaker at the Climate Action: Local Government and School Collaboration Webinar last week where we discussed important questions surrounding climate action. Learn more.
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Updated COVID-19 Vaccine to Provide Better Protection Against Current Variants
The updated COVID-19 vaccine has been recommended for everyone 6 months and older by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This follows authorization by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and recommendation by CDC’s immunization advisory panel. These updated vaccines, referred to as the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine, were developed to more closely target variants that are currently causing disease thereby providing better protection against serious COVID-19, including hospitalization and death. The updated COVID-19 vaccines are similar to earlier COVID-19 vaccines which were safely administered to hundreds of millions of Americans during the pandemic. Learn more.
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NCS Honored with Three Statewide Parks and Recreation Awards
The Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services earned honors in three categories at the 2023 Virginia Recreation and Park and Society’s annual conference in Williamsburg, Va. The annual awards presentation honors exemplary members, volunteers and agencies of the parks and recreation community for achievements during the previous calendar year. The Lorton Community Center was recognized as the Best New Facility (Brick & Mortar). Learn more.
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Oktoberfest at Fort Belvoir
September 28 - October 1
Fremont Field, 9025 Richmond Hwy.
Join Fort Belvoir for the 25th Annual Oktoberfest! This four-day festival highlights authentic German cuisine, beverages, music and dancing. Enjoy an exciting carnival, Volksmarch 5K/10K Walk and much more. This is a fun-filled event geared toward the whole family! Learn more.
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Celebrate the Harvest Season at Your Local Farmers Market
As the leaves eventually change and the temperature drops, it's a great time to discover fall markets in the County. Put on your coziest sweater, indulge in a pumpkin spiced latte and explore the variety of offerings at these fall markets. The Park Authority presents 10 farmers markets across the County, bringing the freshest local products to residents.
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McCutcheon/Mount Vernon Farmers Market, Wednesdays, April 19 - Dec. 20, from 8 a.m. - noon, 2501 Sherwood Hall Ln., Alexandria
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Lorton Farmers Market, Sundays, May 7 - Nov. 19, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 8990 Lorton Station Blvd., Lorton
Get involved in the Fall Compost Competition throughout September by dropping off more food scraps than in August. Each market will compete through October 1. As a token of appreciation, those dropping off food scraps in the last week of September might receive a FREE countertop compost bin (subject to availability). Learn more.
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U.S. Citizenship Class
Wednesday, September 27, 7 - 8:30 p.m.
City of Fairfax Regional Library Room 103, 10360 North St.
This 8-week class will prepare you for the English and Civics portion of the U.S. Citizenship Exam. Weekly attendance is required and materials will be provided. Register today.
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Steamology Stem Fest
Saturday, October 14, 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
South County High School, 8501 Silverbrook Rd.
Enjoy FREE activities related to STEM, including Robotics, Coding, Experiments and more! For students Kindergarten through 8th grade. Join Steamology for a fun event to come together to learn, grow and create a better future! Learn more.
Student Registration.
Volunteer Registration.
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Mason Observatory - Your Passport to the Stars
Enjoy an evening under the stars at the Mason Observatory. Every other Tuesday evening shortly after sunset (weather permitting) the public can learn more about the stars, our solar system, galaxies and celestial events. Scientific talks are approximately 30 minutes long; the information presented is appropriate for ages 5 years and older. Learn more.
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