Andres Jimenez

Mason District Supervisor

CONNECT WITH US!

I recently had the pleasure of meeting with the Mason Animal Welfare Working Group to discuss how we can better support animals and their caretakers across our community. It was a thoughtful and engaging conversation with advocates, residents, and local organizations who are passionate about improving outcomes for pets, wildlife, and the people who care for them.

We discussed a range of issues, from helping reunite lost pets with their families to expanding resources for pet owners, and finding humane, community-driven approaches to caring for outdoor and stray animals. I’m especially grateful for the creative ideas shared around education, outreach, and building stronger connections between partners.

I remain committed to making Mason a safer, kinder place for all of us, including our four-legged friends.

Stay tuned as we continue to collaborate and make progress on these important issues.

I recently had the opportunity to meet with the Fairfax County Commission on Aging to discuss how we can continue building a community where older adults in Mason District, and across the county, can thrive. We talked about the importance of aging in place, affordable and accessible housing, transportation options, and expanding services that promote social connection, health, and independence.

I’m incredibly grateful for the Commission’s dedication and advocacy. Their insights are invaluable as we work to ensure that every older adult in Fairfax County is supported, respected, and empowered.

As always, I remain committed to listening and taking action to improve the quality of life for our older residents. Thank you to the Commission on Aging for your partnership and leadership.

I recently had the privilege of visiting the Sunrise Day Camp at the Pozez JCC. Sunrise offers a full summer of fun, connection, and healing for children with cancer and their siblings, all at no cost to families.

From the moment you step on campus, the warmth and joy are undeniable. It’s a space where children can simply be kids, surrounded by laughter, creativity, and a deep sense of care and support.

I’m incredibly grateful to the dedicated team at Sunrise and the Pozez JCC for creating such a powerful, inclusive environment.

This past Saturday was a shining example of what makes Mason District so special.

In the morning, I joined residents at the George Mason Regional Library Renovation Community Meeting, where we heard directly from County staff and library personnel about the exciting plans ahead. Libraries are more than buildings, they’re community anchors, and I’m grateful to everyone who came out to learn more, share ideas, and stay engaged.

Later in the day, we hosted a Solar 101 Workshop with neighbors interested in exploring how rooftop solar can help lower energy costs and support a more sustainable future. A big thank you to Solar United Neighbors, Sukrit Mishra, and Brandon Praileau for leading such an informative session and fielding thoughtful questions from our community.

Thank you to everyone who spent part of their Saturday with us, your energy and engagement are what make Mason District shine.

It was a pleasure to celebrate the grand opening of Flavor Hive, one of Annandale’s newest additions to our vibrant local food scene! Located at 4260 John Marr Drive, Flavor Hive brings bold flavors and a welcoming atmosphere to the heart of Mason District.

Following the opening, my team and I stopped by for lunch, and let me tell you, the food did not disappoint! It’s always exciting to see new small businesses thrive, and we’re proud to support entrepreneurs who invest in our community.

Congratulations to the Flavor Hive team on a fantastic start. I encourage everyone to stop by, grab a bite, and show some love to this great new local spot.

We’re thrilled to announce the return of Mason District Restaurant Week, and this year’s theme is all about celebrating the incredible global flavors right here at home. With 30+ cuisines represented right here in Mason District, this is your chance to showcase what makes your restaurant truly unique.

We're inviting local restaurants to participate in this week-long celebration of culture, cuisine, and community. There is no cost to join, and each participating restaurant will be featured across our social media, event webpage, and outreach materials.

📅 Key Dates:

• August 1: RSVP & intake form opens
• September 1: Form closes – last day to confirm your interest
• Mid-September: Restaurants will receive their Welcome Packet, including promotional materials, participation guidelines, and an event poster

🔗 Sign up here starting August 1:

https://forms.office.com/g/fDetMBJ4Up?origin=lprLink

✅ Why join?

• Boost foot traffic and connect with new customers
• Celebrate and share your culinary story with a broader audience

Questions? Reach out to us at Mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Fairfax County is home to around 80,000 federal employees and over 3,800 federal contractors, making our region deeply connected to federal operations. To support those impacted by changes or disruptions in federal services or employment, the Fairfax County Federal Workforce Resource Hub provides essential resources for residents, government employees, active military/veterans, contractors, nonprofits, and businesses. Whether you need job search assistance, financial support, or guidance on available county services, this hub is designed to help you navigate current and future challenges.

🔗 Explore resources and support: Fairfax County Federal Workforce Resource Hub

Fairfax County is committed to ensuring our workforce and community remain strong, stay informed, and connected!

🚲 Stay Connected: Active Transportation Newsletter

Did you know that FCDOT’s Active Transportation Program publishes a monthly newsletter? It’s a great way to stay up to date on local events, safety tips, transportation plans, and projects that make walking, biking, and rolling easier and safer across Fairfax County. Whether you’re a regular trail user or just curious about what’s happening in your neighborhood, this newsletter is a valuable resource to keep you informed and engaged.

👉 Check it out and subscribe here: Active Transportation Newsletter | Transportation

For road-related issues like potholes, damaged signs, or snow removal, contact VDOT at 1-800-FOR-ROAD (1-800-367-7623), VDOTinfo@vdot.virginia.gov, or my.vdot.virginia.gov. For parking or traffic enforcement concerns, reach out to the Mason District Police Station at (703) 691-2131 or email fcpdparkingenforcement@fairfaxcounty.gov. Your reports help keep our community safe and accessible!

🚧 Check Out VDOT’s 2025 Paving Map

Wondering when your street, or a nearby road, might be repaved? The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has a live paving map for 2025 that lets you track paving projects across the region in real time. It’s a helpful tool to stay informed about planned improvements and potential impacts in your neighborhood.

👉 Explore the map here.

🚧 Share Your Input: Gallows Road Multimodal Study

Fairfax County is conducting a multimodal corridor study of Gallows Road, and your input is essential! This study will help identify potential improvements for walking, biking, transit, and driving along the corridor between Tysons and Annandale.

Whether you use Gallows Road daily or occasionally, we want to hear your experiences and ideas to make it safer, more efficient, and accessible for everyone.

📍 Learn more about the study:

🔗 fairfaxcounty.gov/transportation/study/gallows-road

📝 Take the survey:

🔗 publicinput.com/gallowsroad2025

Your feedback will help shape the future of mobility along this important corridor. Survey responses are encouraged from residents, commuters, and all who travel through this area.

🌿 Yard Watch: Porcelain Berry Alert – August 2025

Those clusters of pale violet, green, and bright blue berries appearing this summer may look charming, but don’t be fooled. They likely belong to porcelain berry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata), an invasive vine introduced from Asia in the 1870s for ornamental landscaping.

Porcelain berry is a fast-growing, woody perennial vine capable of climbing up to 20 feet per year, forming dense mats that smother native shrubs and seedlings by shading them out.

What you can do to reduce spread

• Clip and bag berries before birds ingest them and disperse seeds.
• Pull young vines manually at any time, remove the roots completely.
• Discard in the trash; never compost.

🌱 Prefer a native alternative?

Plant Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) instead. Its striking orange‑red trumpet flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies and support local ecosystems.

🔗 For expert guidance on identifying and removing porcelain berry, visit: vnps.org/unwanted‑unloved‑porcelain‑berry/

Let’s work together to protect our gardens and local landscapes from invasive species.

♻️ Clean Fairfax: Prep for a Plastic-Free Fall

If you joined in on Plastic Free July, congratulations! You’ve already taken meaningful steps to reduce your plastic footprint, and now is the perfect time to keep that momentum going as you prepare for the back-to-school or back-to-work season.

Here are a few simple and sustainable ways to stay plastic-free this fall:

✅ Switch to reusable bottles and thermoses

Choose stainless steel or glass options and avoid reusing single-use plastic bottles, especially those labeled #1 or #7, which can leach harmful chemicals.

✅ Pack smarter with reusable containers

Repurpose jars or use glass, metal, or silicone containers. For sandwiches, beeswax-coated cloth wraps like Meli Wraps are a great alternative.

✅ DIY reusable cutlery kits

Thrift some affordable silverware, wrap in cloth napkins, or store in a pencil case, perfect for lunchboxes, backpacks, or glove compartments.

✅ Reuse school and office supplies

Before buying new, take inventory of leftover supplies. Make your own notebooks using recycled paper, cardboard, and washi tape!

✅ Bring your own takeout containers

Cut down on restaurant waste by using hinged silicone containers for leftovers, better for the planet and your lunch plans the next day.

🌍 Clean Fairfax promotes environmental stewardship and urban sustainability through education, outreach, and community engagement across Fairfax County.

🔗 Learn more at www.cleanfairfax.org

📱 Follow us: IG/X: @CleanFairfax | FB: @CleanFairfaxCouncil

Let’s work together for a cleaner, greener Fairfax: one habit at a time!

🌳 Free Trees Available for Community Groups in Fairfax County

Fairfax County’s Urban and Community Forestry Division, in partnership with Casey Trees, is offering free, high-quality trees to community-based organizations for planting on private properties.

This initiative supports the County’s One Fairfax commitment to equity by prioritizing economically disadvantaged and environmentally vulnerable communities, helping to expand tree cover where it’s needed most.

🌱 Whether you’re part of a neighborhood association, faith-based group, nonprofit, or other local organization, this is a great opportunity to beautify your space, reduce heat, and strengthen environmental resilience, at no cost.

📩 Learn more about how to participate:

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/publicworks/news/fairfax-county-offers-free-trees-community-organizations

Let’s work together to grow a greener, healthier Fairfax for all!

🛑 We Want Your Input: Help Shape Gateway Signage for Bailey’s Crossroads & Seven Corners!

The Community Revitalization Section (CRS), in partnership with the Mason District Supervisor’s Office and the Crossroads and Corners Coalition (C3), is seeking your feedback on proposed gateway signage design concepts for Bailey’s Crossroads and Seven Corners.

Earlier this year, we gathered community input through a survey and public workshop. Now, we’re sharing several updated design concepts based on that feedback, and we want to hear what you think!

💬 Take the Survey

🔗 engage.fairfaxcounty.gov/gatewaysignageconcepts

(Or scan the QR code below)

🖼️ View the Presentation

See all the proposed signage designs and learn more about the design process:

🔗 View Concepts Presentation

Your feedback will directly shape the final design to reflect the local identity, character, and pride of our community. Thank you for sharing your voice!

💼 Grant Opportunity: Korean American Community Foundation Community Grants Program

🗓️ Application Deadline: August 29, 2025

The Korean American Community Foundation (KACF) is now accepting applications for its Community Grants Program. This multi-year grant opportunity offers up to $100,000 annually for three years and provides both general operating support and program-specific funding.

📌 Eligibility Highlights:

• General operating grants are available to organizations with annual budgets of $3 million or less
• Program-specific funding is open to a broader range of applicants

This is a great opportunity for nonprofits serving Korean American communities or addressing issues of equity and inclusion.

🔗 Learn more and apply:

philanthropynewsdigest.org/rfps/rfp18101

Don’t miss this chance to strengthen your organization’s impact and sustainability.

George Mason University Launches Support Resources for Displaced Federal Workers

George Mason University is offering a comprehensive suite of support services to assist federal employees and their families impacted by job disruptions. These resources are designed to help individuals gain new skills, explore new career paths, and stay engaged with the community.

Available Resources Include:

• Access to Online Micro-Credentials: Over 90 training courses and certifications are available through Mason Career Academy.
• Free Entrepreneurial Coaching: Mason Enterprise is providing personalized coaching for those exploring small business opportunities, consulting, or federal contracting.
• Graduate Application Fee Waivers: Several Mason colleges are waiving application fees for select fall 2025 graduate programs.
• Complimentary Event Tickets: Free admission to select performances and athletic events during the 2025–26 season, courtesy of the College of Visual and Performing Arts and Mason Athletics.

To learn more and access these resources, visit gmu.edu/displaced-workers-support.

🎮 Game On: Your Summer Escape at GMU’s Corner Pocket!

Looking for a cool, fun midweek escape? Corner Pocket at George Mason University has you covered with a full lineup of games, nostalgia, and entertainment; perfect for beating the heat and leveling up your summer fun.

From classic board games and arcades to VR experiences, lawn games, and gaming consoles, there’s something for every type of gamer. Whether you’re flying solo, hanging with friends, or planning a group outing, Corner Pocket delivers.

🕓 Hours: Tuesdays–Thursdays, 4:00–9:00 PM

📅 Now through August 14

💸 Summer Membership: Just $20 - includes unlimited play for you and a friend!

🎉 Event space available for parties or team nights!

Learn more and grab your membership here:

🔗 studentcenters.gmu.edu/corner-pocket

Game on! 🎲🕹️

Support Healthy Aging: Apply for the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program

The Virginia Office for Aging Services and FRESHFARM are partnering to bring the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (Senior FMNP) to eligible older adults in Fairfax County!

The program offers a $50 benefit to qualifying seniors to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs from local farmers markets. It’s a simple way to eat healthy, support local agriculture, and stay engaged in the community.

📅 Apply by September 30, 2025

🎯 Goal: Enroll 772 senior shoppers this season!

🔎 Learn more: freshfarm.org/virginia-senior-fmnp

📝 Apply now: freshfarm.org/virginia-senior-fmnp/apply

Please help spread the word, share with neighbors, post in your community, or feature in your organization’s outreach. Every share brings us closer to connecting seniors with fresh, nutritious food.

📚 Upcoming Forum: American Mythology and the History of Arlington House

🗓️ Wednesday, September 3, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

📍 Little River United Church of Christ, 8410 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA

Join the Lifetime Learning Institute of Northern Virginia (LLI) for a thought-provoking presentation by Daniel Blier, National Park Service Ranger and lead interpreter at Fort Hunt Park. This engaging Forum will explore American Mythology and the History of Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial.

This free, in-person program is open to the public, no registration required. Social time begins at 9:30 AM, with the Forum starting promptly at 10:00 AM.

🔗 Learn more about the event and the full calendar of offerings:

https://llinova.org/courses/event-calendar/#!event/2025/9/3/sep-3-forum-in-person

LLI offers more than 130 annual classes, forums, and excursions for adults 50+, providing lifelong learning and community engagement.

📩 Questions? Email: admin@llinova.org

🌐 Website: www.llinova.org