12.11.2025

Dear Neighbor,

The election results are in, and we are pleased to announce that Rachna Sizemore Heizer will be the next Braddock District Supervisor!

The Supervisor-Elect will take the oath of office on Tuesday, December 16, 5:00 p.m. at the Government Center. She will have the opportunity to formally introduce herself to you in next week's Advisory message. In the meantime, the Braddock District staff are busy preparing for the Supervisor-Elect to assume the role so that she can get right to work serving you in her new capacity.

Winter Weather Resources

With winter approaching, we'd like to share some resources for you to have on hand before the next weather-maker strikes. Visit VDOT's winter weather page to learn about how to monitor road conditions and review VDOT's process for clearing roads of ice and snow.

Fairfax County's Guide to Snow has street snow removal resources, a link for the County's operating status, snow shoveling tips, and more.

If you're a Metro rider, you can visit WMATA.com/Snow for up-to-the-minute updates on the status of all bus & rail routes, and maps of bus detours. Each route listed will show Regular Service, Snow Detour, or Temporarily Suspended. Customers are encouraged to bookmark the site for future reference. Read the full statement about winter weather preparedness on the WMATA website.

Since we are expecting some very cold weather, be aware that the County's Hypothermia Prevention Program is active. If you see someone who you think is at risk of hypothermia, please call the County's non-emergency Police number at (703) 691-2131. A police officer will respond and conduct a wellness check. If you see an individual in distress, please call 9-1-1.

Be Winter Salt Smart: Protect the Environment While Staying Safe

While salt is an effective tool for keeping roads and walkways safe during winter storms, excessive use can harm the environment, raise sodium levels in drinking water, and damage automobiles and infrastructure. Just one teaspoon of salt can permanently pollute five gallons of water, so it’s important to minimize its use.

If you would rather not use salt, use traction materials like sand, bird seed (a native blend) or zeolite crystals (like EcoTraction).

As winter approaches, be sure to prepare by stocking up on the right type of salt, shoveling snow early and often, and applying salt only where and when it’s truly needed. After storms, sweep up unused salt or traction materials for reuse. Making informed and intentional choices about salt use helps protect the environment, wildlife, and our drinking water while still keeping sidewalks and roads safe.

Yours in service,

The Braddock District Office

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Continue reading below for more information on:

Burke Centre Library Book Sale Cancelled
Holiday Fire Safety: Keep Your Home Safe This Season
Help During the Holidays
GMU Releases First Comprehensive Virginia Climate Assessment
Fairfax County Park Authority Extends Food Scrap Collection
Policy Plan Update Approved by Board of Supervisors

Burke Centre Library Book Sale Cancelled

Regrettably, due to continuing and unresolved HVAC issues at Burke Centre Library which are unlikely to be resolved before the weekend, the Friends of Burke Centre Library Holiday Gift and Book Sale, originally scheduled for December 12-13, is CANCELLED.

The Burke Centre Library itself will remain closed on Friday, December 12 - check the Library website for updates on the weekend opening status.

We hope Burke Centre Library’s loyal customers, book shoppers, and friends understand and keep an eye out for the ongoing book sales when the branch reopens.

Holiday Fire Safety: Keep Your Home Safe This Season

The holidays are a wonderful time for family gatherings, decorations and celebrations. But they’re also the peak season for home fires in Fairfax County. Between cooking mishaps, candles and Christmas trees, December brings extra fire risks that can turn a joyous occasion into a tragedy.

holiday-safety-trees-lights-and-candles image

Visit the Fairfax County Emergency Information blog for more safety tips.

Help During the Holidays

The holiday season is often described as “cheerful,” but it can also bring stress and emotional challenges. That's why it's so important to stop and listen to your own needs in the midst of all of the hustle and bustle. Whether you’re dealing with grief, social, financial or emotional stress, support is available from the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB).

Read a Q&A with Stacey Lawson, Division Director of Residential Treatment and Detoxification Services to learn more about the mental health and substance use support that is available 24/7 — even throughout the holidays.

GMU Releases First Comprehensive Virginia Climate Assessment

George Mason University has released the Virginia Climate Assessment, the Commonwealth’s first comprehensive, science-based evaluation of how past, current, and anticipated climate conditions have and will impact Virginia and its people.

Developed and extensively peer-reviewed by technical and scientific experts across Virginia and beyond, this inaugural report synthesizes decades of research into a unified, evidence-based resource that is specific to Virginia. The report covers such topics as extreme heat, sea level rise, flood risk and economic impacts in the commonwealth’s six defined climate regions. It establishes a critical baseline essential for informing policy, guiding infrastructure planning and supporting community resilience in the face of a changing climate. Download the full PDF report from the Virginia Climate Center.

Fairfax County Park Authority Extends Food Scrap Collection

Although the Fairfax County Farmers Markets are closed for the season, there are still market locations open for food scrap collection. Residents can still bring food scraps to one of the following five local farmers markets locations to help reduce landfill waste and contribute to richer, more nutrient-dense soil for agricultural and landscaping purposes.

Check out the updated schedule below (Braddock District locations are in bold):

McCutcheon/Mt. Vernon, December 3 - 31, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.*
*No collection on Dec 24
Oakmont, November 5 – December 31, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.*
*No collection on Dec 24
Wakefield Market, November 5 – December 31, 2 - 6 p.m.*
*No collection on Dec 24
McLean, November 7 – December 26, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.*
*No collection on Nov 28
Burke, November 29 - December 27, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Collection may be canceled if two or more inches of snowfall are predicted within 24 hours of a scheduled collection day. Check this Park Authority webpage for updates.

Policy Plan Update Approved by Board of Supervisors

The Board of Supervisors approved Plan Forward Phase 1, the first major update to the Policy Plan since 1990. Revisions modernize Countywide land use, transportation, environment, parks and healthy community policies, with equitable development integrated throughout.

Community input shaped the updates, and work on Phase 2 will begin in 2026 with more opportunities for public engagement.