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09.03.2026
Dear Neighbor,
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This week marks the first week of September. Fall doesn't officially begin until the 22nd, but don't let that stop you from enjoying a pumpkin spice latte or keeping an eye out for leaves as they start to turn.
September is a strange, in-between month, with summer-like days and fall-like activities. I was listening to the radio this morning, when one of the stations was playing Stevie Wonder's I Just Called To Say I Love You. Fun fact: Stevie Wonder never actually names September, but instead he references the breeze, the birds migrating, and the Libra sun as the hallmarks of the month, and a reason to tell somebody you love them.
Wonder's song serves as a good reminder not to underestimate the power of September. Don't forget all the great things that are happening this month in anticipation of October: there's plenty to celebrate. Along with being the most popular month for birthdays, it's a pretty good month to be right here in Braddock. North Springfield will have a "Porch Fest" featuring local musicians. We'll be holding a "Stuff the Bus" event where we will literally be collecting a busload of food for local food banks. And, our office is hosting an art competition inviting you and your friends to depict what joy looks like. All entries are welcome. Don't let confidence, or your lack thereof, hold you back from submitting!
Above all, September is the month of harvest. Few of us in Braddock are tending actual farms, but it's still a fitting time to recognize the fruits of your labor, which is exactly what Labor Day is all about. We hope you'll take a moment this month to appreciate all the work you've done and the joy that it's brought you. And, if you want to appreciate the fruits of somebody else's labor, consider nominating them for a coveted Best of Braddock award later on in the newsletter, or stop by a local farmer's market for a literal harvest of this season's gifts.
As they say: you reap what you sow. In this month of joy, change, and love, take the opportunity to plan something new and harvest the good things you've already worked for. You deserve it!
| | Supervisor Rachna Sizemore Heizer | |
In this issue:
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🎬From the Boardroom
- 👥Community Happenings
- 🚗Closures, Delays, and Alerts
- 💵Money Matters: Fundraisers and opportunities
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🏠Land Use and Environment updates
- 🍎Health and Human Services
- 🐶Pet Adoption Corner
| | NOTICE: Our office will close at noon tomorrow. We will resume normal hours on Tuesday, September 8. Enjoy the Labor Day weekend! | | |
Legislative Committee
Legislative Committee Kicks Off 2027 Planning
The Legislative Committee met to begin shaping the county's legislative program for the 2027 General Assembly and Congressional sessions. In keeping with the objective of all the Board’s work, the principles outlined align with the County’s Strategic Plan. A draft program covering a wide range of topics was presented.
General Assembly priorities include respecting and expanding local authority (especially land use and the delivery of services), fully funding existing programs, fully funding public schools, including cost-of-living adjustments, expanding local taxing authority, and supporting affordable housing while preserving local control over implementation.
Federal priorities include securing funding for local projects, new-tech initiatives, federal mandates, and environmental/green initiatives; advocating for GW Parkway safety improvements; opposing efforts to shift Medicaid and safety-net programs to localities; supporting affordable housing and federal-local partnerships; protecting FEMA; and advancing airport noise mitigation programs.
The program is still evolving, with ongoing work to both refine language and coordinate with the local state delegation to secure the best outcomes for Fairfax County and the Commonwealth.
The full draft of the Legislative Program and outlines of more specific legislation Fairfax County is planning to support are available for review. The next scheduled meeting of the Legislative Committee will be on December 1, 2026.
Budget Committee
Carryover Funds Take Center Stage at Budget Policy Meeting
This week's Budget Policy Committee dug into how to put $107.62 million in carryover funds to work. The money, left over from fiscal year 2026 and equal to 1.1% of the revised budget, reflects stronger-than-expected revenue from property taxes, the food & beverage tax, interest earnings, and other sources.
Top of the list are critical infrastructure needs: replacing aging underground fuel storage tanks and bolstering emergency preparedness and disaster response and more. In Braddock District, funds would also support cleanup at Royal Lake Park following damage from the June 2026 storm.
Beyond those essentials, the proposal also directs additional dollars toward FCPS, county parks, and road improvements.
The plan also looks ahead, investing in the county's economic future by adding staff in the Department of Economic Initiatives and the Office of the County Executive to focus on housing, economic competitiveness, and growth projects, an investment county leaders say has historically paid for itself many times over.
Details of the many critical projects that would receive funding are available in the FY 2026 Carryover Review. The proposals will be voted on at the Board Meeting on September 15, 2026, Board Meeting.
Land Use Committee
At Tuesday’s meeting of the Braddock Land Use Policy Committee, supervisors heard from County staff on two topics: proposed changes to business zoning ordinances; and the status of sanitary sewer laterals in the County.
Fairfax County’s Zoning Administration started the meeting with a presentation on proposals to modernize zoning ordinances for certain types of businesses in commercial and industrial districts. The proposed ordinance changes would impact business owners who operate food trucks, recycling centers, vehicle sales, associated services business who serve principal businesses in a building, and specialized instruction centers. The proposed changes are intended to provide clearer guidelines that allow for consistency in enforcement and provide more flexibility, where appropriate. The County’s presentation and White Paper can be read on the Board of Supervisors Land Use Policy Committee Meeting webpage.
During the second presentation, staff from the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services’ Wastewater Planning and Monitoring Division provided a briefing to the supervisors on privately-owned sanitary sewer laterals in response to a December 9, 2025 Board Matter requesting more information on the topic. Staff were asked to estimate the scale of the problem for sewer laterals located in the VDOT rights-of-way, and to research possible alternatives for assisting residents with sewer lateral repair costs. Staff reported that it would be very challenging to provide financial assistance to vulnerable communities in Fairfax County due to the cost of lateral repairs and the requirement to obtain legal authority from the state government to create a needs-based program. To review a full copy of the Sanitary Sewer Lateral Evaluation presentation and the White Paper on this topic, please visit the Board of Supervisors Land Use Committee Meeting site.
The next meeting of the Land Use Policy Committee will be held on November 24, 2026 at the Government Center.
You can view the full Board committee video archive here.
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Dear Neighbors,
Well, our first week of school is in the books! (Dad pun intended). Our kids have settled into a good routine already, and I’m excited to see them continue to grow this year.
On Thursday, we held our first board meeting of the year, and on Tuesday I led my first committee meeting as Chair of the Board’s Public Engagement Committee.
During our board meeting, we made a proclamation honoring the 2Twenty Club, discussed how supportive school communities lead to student success, and also voted to approve the expansion of Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) to all middle schools. I voted in favor of this for a number of reasons, including that this provides greater equity throughout the county, and hopefully, long-term cost-savings.
This week I’m attending back-to-school nights at different Braddock schools, as well as the Woodson pyramid carnival. If you see me, please say hello! This will be my first new school year as a Board member so I am excited for all of the events, activities, and opportunities to meet members in our community.
I have also been regularly having conversations with Supervisor Heizer and FCPS leadership about a range of issues, and I appreciate the open line of communication that has allowed us to discuss the concerns we have been hearing about in the Braddock District.
As always, I welcome your inputs and questions on every issue before the Board, and those that you feel I should bring forward. You can email me at Braddock@fcps.edu.
Yours In Service,
Tom Dannan
Braddock District School Board Representative
| | Nominate Somebody for a Best of Braddock Award | | |
The Best of Braddock awards season is here!
If you know somebody making a difference, be sure to nominate them to be the Best of Braddock. We are seeking nominations for six awards:
- Citizen of the Year
- Young Person of the Year (5-18)
- Civic Engagement
- Beautification in Braddock
- Most can-do public employee
- Organization making a difference
Nominations are due by October 9, 2026. You can find the submission link here. Please email braddockevents@fairfaxcounty.gov with questions. Awards will be distributed at a ceremony one November 10.
| | Echoes and Inspiration: Braddock District Art Contest | |
We are happy to announce the first annual Braddock District art competition!
We invite emerging and established artists from across Braddock District to showcase their unique visions by responding to the question: What does joy look like?
This contest is free to enter, and all finalists will receive certificates of recognition at the Best of Braddock awards on November 10, as well as a two-month long exhibition at our district office.
There are four categories:
Youth Division: Ages 11-14
Teen Division: Ages 15-18
Adult Division: Ages 19+
Senior Division: Ages 55+
Keep an eye on ArtFairfax's website for eligibility and submission details. SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED FROM SEPTEMBER 7 THROUGH OCTOBER 9 AT 7:00 P.M.
| Join the Braddock District Arts Advisory Council | |
Are you looking for a way to get more involved with the arts in the Braddock District? If so, this opportunity is for you!
Braddock District Supervisor Rachna Sizemore Heizer is pleased to announce the development of the Braddock District Arts Advisory Council to support and strengthen the arts across the community. The Council’s mission will be to promote and cultivate the arts in the Braddock District by encouraging collaboration, supporting local artists and cultural organizations, and helping expand access to arts experiences for residents of all ages. Prospective projects include judging an intergenerational community arts contest, creating arts activation events at community events, and new potential projects to fulfill the mission of the council.
Please don't hesitate to fill out our interest form here. Our first meeting is Thursday, September 17 at 7:00 p.m., and we will send out more information about the meeting to the participants that fill out our interest form. Please email any questions to braddockaac@gmail.com.
We look forward to working with you to make Braddock more beautiful!
| STUFF THAT BUS! Saturday, September 19 | | |
Save the date! On Saturday, September 19 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., our office will host a Stuff the Bus event!
It's as simple as it sounds. A bus will be at our office (9002 Burke Lake Road). Our goal: to fill the bus with non-perishable food and gift cards for area food banks. So, clear out your pantry and let's show the county what Braddock is made of. Let's stuff that bus to the max!
More information can be found here.
| September is National Preparedness Month | |
September is National Preparedness Month, and this year’s theme, “Fairfax Stands Ready,” reminds us that preparedness starts at home.
Emergencies can happen anytime. Take a few simple steps now to prepare yourself, your family, and your community.
The Fairfax County Department of Emergency Management and Security wants to hear from you! Take our Emergency Preparedness Survey to share your preparedness habits and help us improve programs, resources, and outreach. Take the survey.
Four Ways to Get Prepared
1. Make a Plan – Decide where you’ll go, how you’ll communicate, and where you’ll meet if you’re separated. Practice your plan with your household.
2. Build an Emergency Kit – Stock food, water, medications, important documents, and other essentials to help you get through an emergency.
3. Stay Informed – Sign up for Fairfax Alerts to receive emergency, severe weather, government closure, scam, and other important notifications.
4. Get Involved – Volunteer through the Volunteer Emergency Team (VET) or connect your organization with the Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) network.
| *North Springfield* Porch Fest Saturday, September 19 | | |
*Note: Last week's location was given in error.* North Springfield Porch Fest is scheduled for Saturday, September 19 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the North Springfield neighborhood. Check the website below for the full list of venues. The rain date will be Saturday, September 26.
This will be a FREE neighborhood music festival where neighbors play live music for the community. Friends and neighbors gather in front yards, carports, backyards, and front porches to listen to music performed in many styles and levels from amateur, garage bands, community choirs, school ensembles to professional musicians.
If you're interested, check out the organizer's Facebook or website for more information.
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Library Events
Come and partake in the diverse offerings of the Kings Park and Burke Centre Libraries this week.
A full listing of library activities throughout Fairfax County may be found on the Library Calendar.
| | Burke Centre - Kumihimo 101 | | |
Free bracelets? What could be better?
Burke Centre will be hosting a Kumihimo bracelet making session next Wednesday. Kumihimo is an ancient Japanese form of braiding using multiple strands of cord and/or ribbon. Kumihimo braids are very popular for bracelets but can also be used in necklaces. Different designs and patterns are possible by changing braiding materials, varying the thickness or number of strands, using a round or square disk. All materials will be provided.
Date: Wednesday, September 9
Time: 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Burke Centre Meeting Room 117
| | Kings Park - Plant Clinic | | |
Want a green thumb? Drop-in for horticultural tips, information, techniques and advice from the Fairfax County Master Gardeners. This is a recurring event where you can learn from the best of the best about gardening. This event is for adults only.
Date: Wednesday, September 9
Time: 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Burke Centre Meeting Room 117
| | Closures, Delays, and Alerts: Oh My! | Royal Lake Commonwealth Trail Closed | The Park Authority has announced that the new paved trail from Commonwealth Blvd to Lakeside Park and the Royal Lake circuit trail is temporarily closed for the next week for final construction of the trail. A new bridge and the final paving will be done over the next week for the final phase of construction. Please see the Park Authority signs for details. | Birmingham Lane Seven-Week Closure at Rolling Road in West Springfield | |
Beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, Birmingham Lane (Route 4153) will be closed to through traffic between Rolling Road (Route 638) and Ontario Street (Route 4152) for approximately seven weeks due to work at the Rolling Road/Birmingham Lane intersection as part of the Rolling Road widening project, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Those needing to reach properties along Birmingham Lane will still have access; however, they will not be able to access Birmingham Lane directly from Rolling Road and vice versa.
You can get traffic, work zone and incident information online at 511.vdot.virginia.gov, via the free mobile 511Virginia app, or by calling 511 in Virginia anywhere anytime.
| ALERT: Gunpowder Road Bridge over Rt. 29 Closed Until October | |
The Gunpowder Road bridge over Route 29 will be closed for approximately two months for bridge work, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. The Gunpower Road bridge is scheduled to reopen to traffic in early to mid-October.
You can get traffic, work zone and incident information online at 511.vdot.virginia.gov, via the free mobile 511Virginia app, or by calling 511 in Virginia anywhere anytime.
| Money Matters: Fundraisers and Opportunities | Missed Woodson Band's Tag Day? You can still support them! | |
Woodson Band Tag Day Fundraiser took place last Saturday (8/29). For the biggest fundraiser of the year, the Woodson Cavalier Band went door to door through the Woodson pyramid seeking donations to support upcoming performances and competitions.
If you missed their visit, look for a flyer and envelope for you to send your support, or visit the Woodson Band Tag Day page to donate.
| Energy Conservation Assistance Program: Now Accepting Applications | |
The Energy Conservation Assistance Program provides grants and expert guidance to organizations implementing energy efficiency updates, installing renewable energy solutions or enhancing the resilience of structures and property to withstand the impacts of climate change.
See information below to learn more about the program, the eligibility requirements, and the financial assistance available to your organization by applying to this program!
| | | Join the Braddock District Land Use and Environment (BLUE) Committee | |
Are you or is someone you know interested in becoming involved with local land use decision-making? The Braddock Land Use and Environment (BLUE) Committee is looking for five Braddock District residents to learn about and shape the district's land development future.
Committee members are asked to commit to at least one year of service and serve on at least one subcommittee. If you are interested in joining BLUE, but want to learn more, attend one of their meetings to observe their work and talk with current members.
An application may be downloaded here or may be requested by calling (703) 425-9300.
We look forward to hearing from you!
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The next BLUE Committee meeting will be on Tuesday, September 15 at 7:00 p.m.
The location of the meeting is tentatively planned for Conference Room 4/5 in the Fairfax County Government Center located at 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA, 220035.
The BLUE committee will be briefed on the proposed changes to the planned text changes in the Comprehensive Plan for the development of the Fairfax Center Core and Suburban areas.
All interested members of the community are also invited to participate in the online meeting by using the Teams Link, or by dialing in to (571) 429-5982, Phone Conference ID: 730 922 969#.
| Health and Human Services | The Shepherd's Center of Annandale Springfield Seeks Volunteers | |
Do you have a few hours a month you can spare to volunteer for the Shepherd’s Center of Annandale/Springfield (SCAS)as a volunteer?
SCAS is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) volunteer organization that helps provide transportation for seniors over 50 who no longer drive who live in the Annandale, Springfield, Kingstowne, Franconia, and parts of Alexandria. They are looking for people to help with:
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Drivers / Transportation Services – help transport local area seniors (50+) from their home to medical appointments. This is our most critical need!
- Lunch N’ Life committee—help to plan and facilitate fun events.
- Board Members—help guide SCAS.
- Outreach - Liaison with churches and businesses.
- Fundraiser/grant writer– help raise funds.
- Office Manager – Part-time, paid position handling general office duties. For further details refer to shepherdscenter-annandale.org.
Please refer to their website www.shepherdscenter-annandale.org for additional details on how you can help, or call the office at 703-941-1419, Monday through Friday, between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm with any questions you may have.
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Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky, and the most prominent star in the Canis Major (Greater Dog) constellation.
Talk about a dog that is written in the stars for you!
Sirius is a friendly, outgoing dog who greets every visitor like they're already his friend. He loves attention, happily leans in for pets, and may sneak in the occasional excited jump - he's full of enthusiasm and curiosity about the world.
Though ethereal, this handsome boy appreciates the little things here on Earth: brushing sessions, long walks, water breaks, and lots of pup cups. He's seeking a patient active family who can guide his energy.
If you're looking for a happy, enthusiastic partner who will brighten your days, Sirius might be the perfect match. Check out more information on him or the adoption process here.
| | Follow Supervisor Rachna Sizemore Heizer on
Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Bluesky, and 'X.' | | | | |
