9.25.2025

Dear Neighbor,

This past Saturday, our office partnered with the Fairfax County Park Authority to hold the reoccurring Oak Hill Open House.

The event showcased the privately owned 18th-century Georgian-style home and the gardens, including historic boxwoods. The home is a remnant of the Ravensworth Tract – originally totaling more than 22,000 acres – dating from the 1670s. William Fitzhugh was granted Ravensworth; after Williams’s death, the Ravensworth tract was divided among his sons and continued to be subdivided through the family over the years.

Richard Fitzhugh inherited Oak Hill in 1783 and the farmhouse at Oak Hill was built around 1790. Oak Hill remained in the Fitzhugh family until William Watt purchased the farm in 1889. Oak Hill is the only surviving Fitzhugh family manor, the nearby Ravensworth house and Ossian Hall were both destroyed by fire.

The farm was sold to Edward and Jane Howrey during the Great Depression. Walter Macomber remodeled the home in the late 1930s in the Colonial Revival style. Except for the sunroom added in the 1970s, the home has remained the same since the 1930s remodel.

Oak Hill was one of three plantations owned by the Fitzhugh family, and today the original home remains intact along with much of the historic landscape. The beautiful weather Saturday drew hundreds of curious residents to the Open House.

If you missed the Open House, you can read the brochure for the self-guided tour here. Thank you to our gracious hosts, the current owners, Joe and Laura Braceland.

Car Taxes Due October 6

If your vehicle is regularly garaged, stored, or parked in Fairfax County, it is subject to the personal property tax, or car tax. For details, read the County NewsCenter’s article, What You Need to Know for 2025. Car tax payments are due on Monday, October 6. You can save gas and time by paying online, which is quick, easy, and free when you use e-check. Visit the Department of Tax Administration (DTA)’s website for a list of all payment options including online, by phone, by mail, or at one of several drop boxes around the County.

The County has made it easier than ever to pay your taxes, with new options such as tap-to-pay with credit cards and Apple Pay, debit payments with PIN entry, and online scheduling of future payments.

If you plan to pay in-person, be prepared to wait in line. See below for extended hours starting September 29.

Vehicle values are assessed using a standard pricing guide, applied uniformly. All Virginia localities use the J.D. Power Associates Valuation Services Used Car Guide to determine the value of the vehicle as of January 1. For more information about how vehicles are assessed, read the County’s Vehicle Assessment Methods page.

If you have questions about your car tax bill, you can contact DTA:

• Email dtappd@fairfaxcounty.gov
• Call (703) 222-8234 (English or Español) TTY 711
• Visit the tax counter at the Fairfax County Government Center (12000 Government Center) weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Extended to 6:00 p.m. from September 29 - October 3 and October 6

The Braddock District office works with constituents and with DTA when there are questions about a resident’s vehicle tax. If you have a question or concern about property taxes or any other County issue, contact us at (703) 425-9300 or email braddock@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! This celebratory month continues until October 15. Every year, we celebrate the heritage and diverse cultures of the more than 900,000 Virginians who identify as Hispanic or Latino and contribute to Virginia and across our nation.

This month provides an opportunity to learn more about Hispanic culture. Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) will host several events throughout the month, including performances, crafts, games, a scavenger hunt, and more. You can view a list of events on FCPL’s website.

Yours in service,

Braddock District Office

Please share this newsletter with your friends and neighbors. If this email was forwarded to you, consider subscribing to receive Braddock District news and updates.

Continue reading below for more information on:

• Friends of Burke Centre Library's 2025 Fall Book Sale
• ECHO Shred and Share
• FCPS Fall Community Boundary Review Meeting Schedule
• Get to Know Your County
• Public Safety Day
• Affordable Rental Housing Waitlist Applications to Open in Fairfax County
• Nominate the Best of Braddock
• 2025 Climate Action Conference
• Government Center Visioning
• Early Voting for November General Election
• How to Get a COVID Vaccine
• Pet Adoption Spotlight: Cheddar and Blueberry!

Friends of Burke Centre Library's 2025 Fall Book Sale

The Friends of Burke Centre Library's Annual Fall 2025 Book Sale is underway!

The sale is from September 25 - 28 at Burke Centre Library (5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke) and proceeds directly support the Burke Centre Library.

This is an opportunity to find great books, save money, and support your local library!

Book Sale hours:

• Friday, September 26
• 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
• Saturday, September 27
• 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday, September 28 (Bag Sale)
• 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
• Fill the provided bag up for $5

More information is available on the library’s website.

ECHO Shred and Share

Area non-profit ECHO will host "Shred and Share" on Saturday, September 27, from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at Burke Presbyterian Church (5690 Oak Leather Drive, Burke).

Participants are asked to bring personal hygiene items or non-perishable food donations with their documents to be securely shredded.

Information about the shredding event and the most needed donation items can be found on Burke Presbyterian Church's website.

FCPS Fall Community Boundary Review Meeting Schedule

Fairfax County Public Schools’ September community boundary review meetings are underway.

In keeping with Policy 8130, FCPS will hold two sets of meetings, one set in September and one set in October. Each set of meetings will be held with a focus on two pyramids per meeting.

September Community Boundary Review Meetings

All September meetings will include an overview of where FCPS is in the comprehensive boundary review process, ways that community input is informing the process, and next steps in the boundary review process. Several September meetings remain. View the full list on the FCPS website. All are invited to attend whichever meeting is most convenient.

Upcoming September meetings for schools serving students from the Braddock District:

• Friday, September 26, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Woodson High School (In Person or Virtual)
• For Woodson and Fairfax High School Pyramids
• Monday, September 29, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Lake Braddock Secondary (In Person or Virtual)
• For Lake Braddock Secondary School and West Springfield High School Pyramids
• Tuesday, September 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Edison High School (In Person or Virtual)
• For Edison and Lewis High School Pyramids

Meeting Materials

• September 2025 Community Boundary Review Meetings Presentation: Access presentation slides in multiple languages
• Provide feedback on school start times. Click here to take the survey.

October Community Boundary Review Meetings

In October, the latest draft boundary maps, which incorporate the community feedback FCPS received in the spring and input from the Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee, will be posted and available to view through the Boundary Explorer Tool.

At the October community boundary review meetings, participants will review the latest draft boundary maps and provide opportunities for feedback on those. Meeting dates, times, and locations are listed below. Registration links will be available soon.

October meetings for schools serving students in the Braddock District:

• Monday, October 13, 6:30-8 p.m., at Robinson Secondary School
• For Centreville High School and Robinson Secondary School Pyramids
• Tuesday, October 21, 6:30-8 p.m., at Annandale High School
• For Justice and Annandale High School Pyramids
• Monday, October 27, 6:30-8 p.m., at Fairfax High School
• For Woodson and Fairfax High School Pyramids
• Wednesday, October 29, 6:30-8 p.m., at Lewis High School
• For Edison and Lewis High School Pyramids
• Thursday, October 30, 7-8:30 p.m., at Irving Middle School
• For Lake Braddock Secondary School and West Springfield High School Pyramids

Child care for in-person participants and language interpretation/translation for all participants will be available as needed. 

If you are unable to participate in a meeting, you will still be able to provide feedback in the Boundary Explorer Tool.

FCPS encourages you to keep up to date on the Comprehensive Boundary Review and sign up for their Boundary Review newsletter.

Get to Know Your County

The Fairfax County Department of Cable and Consumer Services and the Department of Tax Administration invite you to Get to Know Your County on Friday, October 3, from 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. in the lobby of the Fairfax County Government Center (12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax).

There will be several County agencies sharing information about the services they provide and resources to help you and your community.

Participating agencies include the Fairfax County Police Department, Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, Department of Emergency Management and Safety, and many more.

Public Safety Day

Join the Fairfax County Department of Emergency Management and Security for a Public Safety Day on Saturday, October 4! This is a day of celebrating, learning, and practicing public safety and emergency preparedness!

The event is hosted by Fairfax County Department of Public Safety Communications (9-1-1) and the Department of Emergency Management and Security. It will take place on October 4, at the McConnel Public Safety and Transportation Operations Center (4890 Alliance Drive, Fairfax) from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Register today.

Affordable Rental Housing Waitlist Applications to Open in Fairfax County

The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) will accept waitlist applications for select new-construction Project-Based Voucher (PBV) units.

Applications will become available on October 6 at 8:00 a.m. and will remain open through October 12 at 11:59 p.m.

Project-Based Voucher waitlist applications will be accepted for:

• Indigo at McLean Station (1750 Old Meadow Road, McLean)
• 2-bedroom units (eight Project-Based Vouchers units)
• Fairfax Crest (12020 and 12040 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax)
• 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and 3-bedroom units (14 Project-Based Vouchers units)

Read more on the FCRHA website.

Nominate the Best of Braddock

Nominations for the Best of Braddock are being accepted until Friday, October 31.

The annual awards are an opportunity to recognize the people and organizations working to make our wonderful community even better!

Take a moment to nominate a neighbor or organization for these categories:

• Citizen of the Year
• Person of the Year
• Neighborhood Enhancement or Beautification
• Most "Can-Do" Public Employee
• Club or Organization Making a Difference
• Civic Engagement

Submit your nominations online by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 31. Winners will be notified before the Best of Braddock Reception and Awards Ceremony.  

Email braddock@fairfaxcounty.gov with any questions.

2025 Climate Action Conference

The Braddock District Office's 2025 Climate Action Conference is on Saturday, October 18, at Lake Braddock Secondary School (9200 Burke Lake Road, Burke) from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

This year, we are honored to have Anna-Marie Laura, the Senior Director of Climate Policy at Ocean Conservancy as the Keynote Speaker at the Climate Action Conference. Anna-Marie manages the organization’s domestic and international ocean climate priorities, from advancing responsible offshore wind to ensuring the ocean is included in Nationally Determined Contributions. She frequently represents Ocean Conservancy in international forums, including the UN COP meetings. Prior to joining Ocean Conservancy, Anna-Marie was the Director of Policy and Strategic Partnerships at Rare, an international conservation and development nonprofit, and served as an Ocean and Coastal Policy Advisor for U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, working closely with many stakeholders to advance U.S. domestic ocean policy priorities. She was a Knauss Sea Grant Fellow in 2010, has a Coastal Environmental Management degree from Duke University, and received a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science from University of South Carolina. 

Opening remarks will be given by Congressman James Walkinshaw and Fairfax County Chairman Jeff McKay. Register today.

Are you or someone you know interested in volunteering at the conference? Sign up for a shift today!

Government Center Visioning

Changes are being considered to the long-term vision for the Fairfax County Government Center campus, and your input matters!

The County is reimagining the main Government Center campus (12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax) to better serve the community with improved services, public spaces, and access. The focus is on transforming underused parking lots into vibrant areas where people can gather, live, work, play, and connect with County services and their neighbors. The existing buildings and open spaces will remain.

To guide this effort, the Department of Planning and Development is hosting two Public Open Houses to share some potential development ideas and hear community feedback. You can talk with planners, ask questions, and help shape the vision of this area.

In Person:

• Monday, October 13 | 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
• Conference Rooms 4/5 at the Fairfax County Government Center

12000 Government Center Parkway

Fairfax, VA 22035

Please drop in anytime, a short presentation will be given on the hour, and as needed.

Virtual/Online:

• Tuesday, October 21 | 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
• Join on Zoom
• By Phone: (305) 224-1968
• Meeting ID: 874 8387 5741 | Passcode: 108397

Government Center Visioning is part of a larger areawide planning study for the Fairfax Center Area (Plan Amendment 2013-III-FC1(c)). For additional information, visit the project’s webpage..

Early Voting for

November General Election

Early voting for the November General Election continues through Saturday, November 1.

Early voting dates and information below do not apply to the December 9 Braddock District Special Election.

You can register to vote or update your registration by Friday, October 24.

For those planning to vote by mail, remember to apply to vote by mail before the deadline on Friday, October 24, by 5:00 p.m. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by November 4.

If you plan to vote early in-person, three locations will be open from September 19 - November 1:

• Fairfax County Government Center (12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax)
• Monday-Friday (including October 13) 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
• Saturdays (October 25, November 1) 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday, October 26 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Mt. Vernon Governmental Center (2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria)
• Weekdays (including October 13) 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
• Saturdays (October 25, November 1) 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday, October 26 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• North County Governmental Center (1801 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston)
• Weekdays (including October 13) 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
• Saturdays (October 25, November 1) 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday, October 26 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

On Friday, October 23, 13 additional early voting locations will open, including Burke Centre Library (5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke) and West Springfield Governmental Center (6140 Rolling Road, Springfield).

You can find all the locations, operating hours, and detailed information on Early Voting on the Office of Elections' website.

All regular polling places will be open for voting on Tuesday, November 4, from 6:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. More information about voting is available on the Office of Elections' website.

How to Get a COVID Vaccine

Virginia’s health commissioner signed an order last week that allows pharmacists to give the COVID-19 vaccine to older adults and others with underlying health conditions without a prescription.

• Tips to prepare for respiratory illness season

Under the order, the following individuals qualify for the vaccine without a prescription:

• Seniors who are 65 years of age and older
• People ages 18 to 64 with at least one underlying medical condition, such as heart disease, diabetes, and asthma
• See the CDC’s list of medical conditions that put you at a higher risk for severe illness

In Virginia, pharmacists may either give vaccines with a doctor’s prescription or give them without a prescription if the vaccines are on the CDC’s Immunization Schedule. Because the CDC hasn’t included the 2025-2026 COVID vaccines on its schedule yet, they could only have been administered with a prescription before the health commissioner’s order.

The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization is scheduled to meet today and Thursday. It’s anticipated that the committee will vote on the updated COVID-19 vaccines at their meeting.   

In August, the FDA authorized the following COVID vaccines:

• Moderna’s Spikevax and mNEXSPIKE (age 6 months and older)
• Pfizer’s Comirnaty (age 5 years and older)
• Novavax’s Nuvaxovid (age 12 years and older)

Based on the FDA’s guidance earlier this year, the monovalent vaccines target the LP.8.1 variant from the JN.1 lineage.

Last week, the Virginia Department of Health reported that more than 3,100 people tested positive for COVID statewide. And virus levels are rising in wastewater monitoring samples. The CDC reported high COVID viral activity levels in Virginia’s wastewater last week and very high levels in Fairfax County. Check the Fairfax County Health Department’s Respiratory Illness Dashboard to monitor trends in COVID, flu, and RSV cases.

Pet Adoption Spotlight: Cheddar and Blueberry!

Meet Cheddar and Blueberry, a balanced pair that may sound unconventional, but bring out the best in each other.

Located at the Fairfax Campus (4500 West Ox Road, Fairfax), these two are ready to meet a new forever family.



Cheddar might sound like a sharp guy, but he's actually the milder half of this cheesy-fruity duo. He's the braver of the two, often the first to step out and investigate when things seem safe (especially if there's a treat involved). Lately, he's been soaking up gentle pets and even sitting outside their hidey box-until a loud noise reminds him the world is still a little big for his tastes. He's soft, sweet, and a reassuring presence for his buddy Blueberry.

Blueberry might not be quite ready to take the spotlight, but with Cheddar by his side, he's slowly learning that people aren't so scary, especially if they come bearing Churu. He's the more cautious of the two, preferring to let Cheddar test the waters first, but once he's comfortable, he leans into affection with surprising sweetness. A little hiss here and there is just his way of saying "I need a minute." This shy guy is part of the perfect pair-and while cheese and blueberries might sound like an unusual combo, these two are proof that it totally works.

Together, they can take on the big, wide world - one small step at a time! They love wet food, each other's company, and would do best in a quiet environment with someone who understands that trust takes time, but is so worth it. Like any good snack plate, Cheddar's best when served with his favorite companion right by his side! Meet these sweet and salty kitties!

Visit the Fairfax County Animal Shelter's website for more information about Cheddar and Blueberry or to view other adoptable pets.