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Dear Friend,
Weather experts are warning about an impending snowstorm expected to sweep through the region over the weekend. The storm, which meteorologists predict could be one of the most significant snow events of the season, is poised to bring a mix of heavy snowfall and ice, which can create hazardous conditions.
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It is very important to start preparing for the storm to prevent any potential threats. This can include power outages, dangerous driving conditions, and health threats like hypothermia. As you prepare for the storm, make sure to have all essential accessories such as water, non-perishable food times, and alternative heating equipment.
Sign up for Fairfax Alerts, if you haven't already.
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We encourage residents to avoid non-essential travel during and after the storm. VDOT will be pre-treating roads and plowing after the expected precipitation.
Please remember that safety and connectivity are key, so roads carrying the most traffic get top priority. VDOT clears interstates and most primary roads (generally numbered 1 through 599) first. Crews also plow major secondary roads (numbered 600 and up) with vital emergency and public facilities or those with high traffic volumes.
Snow emergency routes are key among the top priorities. Localities designate these roads for immediate snow removal so emergency vehicles can use them. Other secondary roads and subdivision streets will be treated if multiday storms hit Virginia, but crews will focus their efforts on roads that carry the most traffic. Once the snow stops and main roads are clear, residential streets will be sanded or plowed. You can track VDOT's progress by looking at their snowplow map.
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A reminder that VDOT does not typically clear sidewalks. Residents and businesses are responsible for clearing snow from their sidewalks.
Don't forget about our furry friends -- Bring pets indoors, and call Animal Services Officers at 703-691-2131 to report pets left outside in frigid temperatures.
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You can also adopt a hydrant in your neighborhood. By adopting a hydrant, you ensure our Fire and Rescue Department can respond more quickly in an emergency. "Adopters" are committed to clearing snow, ice, brush and debris from around the hydrant.
Adopting a hydrant means committing to:
- Clearing Snow: Remove snow and ice from around the hydrant after storms to ensure it is visible and accessible.
- Clearing Brush: Remove overgrowth of grass, bushes, and other vegetation around the hydrant to maintain clear access.
- Removing Debris: Keep the area around the hydrant free of trash, leaves, and other obstructions.
- NOT painting, altering, decorating or obstructing the hydrant in any way.
| | Please also note these Winter Water Tips provided by Fairfax Water. | | |
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Lastly, remain salt smart this winter by using salt judiciously. Salt is an effective tool for keeping roads and walkways safe during winter storms, but excessive use can harm the environment, raise sodium levels in drinking water, and damage infrastructure. Fairfax Water reminds residents that a 12-oz mug of salt covers a 20-ft driveway or 10 sidewalk squares. Salt does not work when the temperature is below 15°F -- choose sand or another form of traction instead.
| | It is both an honor and a privilege for me to serve as your representative on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Thank you for the opportunity to serve. | | |
Rodney L. Lusk
Franconia District Supervisor
| | One of the best parts of my job as Supervisor is getting to know you in your communities. I would like to attend your next homeowner, civic, or citizen association meeting to share information and hear what's important to you. If there is a community association meeting or event you would like me to attend, please contact my office at 703-971-6262. | | If this email was forwarded to you, consider signing up for my email list to receive newsletters and other important announcements. | | Inauguration of Governor Abigail Spanberger - January 17 | | Governor Abigail Spanberger | | Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn | | It was an honor to attend the inauguration of Governor Abigail Spanberger, Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi, and Attorney General Jay Jones. This is an historic administration for Virginia: Governor Spanberger is the first woman to hold the office, Lieutenant Governor Hashmi is the first Muslim person to hold the office, and Attorney General Jones is the first Black person to hold the office. | | Franconia Police Station Roll Call - January 15 | | |
I was honored to present a proclamation on behalf of the Board of Supervisors and the residents of Fairfax County to Master Police Officer Kevin Liberty and Police Citizen Aide Christine Liberty. The married couple retired in November after decades of shared commitment to the safety of our residents.
MPO Kevin Liberty served Fairfax County for 31 years, beginning with ten years as a dispatcher before joining the Police Department as an officer. For the past 21 years, he was a steady and reliable presence on the Midnights squad at the Franconia District Police Station. Christine Liberty served the county for 22 years with four years as a dispatcher and the remaining 18 at the Franconia District Police Station. Her work as a Police Citizen Aide supported residents and officers alike, and she was an integral part of the station’s daily operations.
I am grateful for their dedicated service and wish them a happy retirement.
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Community Risk Reduction Week
Proclamation - January 20
| | I presented Community Risk Reduction and Office of the Fire Marshal members with a proclamation recognizing Community Risk Reduction Week. Community Risk Reduction (CRR) is a data-driven process to identify and prioritize local risks, followed by the integrated and strategic investment of resources (emergency response and prevention) to reduce their occurrence and impact. CRR helps to reduce the occurrence and impact of emergency events for both members of the community and emergency responders. | | Sully Senior Safety Seminar - January 22 | | As part of Community Risk Reduction Week, a senior summit was held by Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith at the Sully Community Center with presentations from the Fire and Rescue Department, Department of Emergency Management Service, and the Silver Shield Anti-Scam Program. CERT and the Fairfax County Police Department Civilian Review Panel also had information tables. | | Springfield Civic Association Meeting - January 20 | | I joined Franconia Police District Commander Major Marques Lowery (right) for a meeting with the Springfield Civic Association. Topics of discussion included public safety, ongoing revitalization efforts within Springfield, status of Lake Accotink studies, and the proposed Franconia Development Partners affordable housing project. | | Richard Bryd Library Facility Update | | |
Richard Byrd Library is undergoing boiler replacement and remains closed until further notice.
- Holds and due dates will be extended for customers of this facility.
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Richard Byrd Library holds are available for pick up at Pohick Regional Library.
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Further updates regarding the anticipated reopening timeline will be shared when available.
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Franconia Development Partners, LLC
RZ/FDP-2025- FR-00005
Planning Commission Public Hearing: February 4, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
The application site is located within the Franconia Triangle, the area bound by Franconia Road, Beulah Street and Grovedale Drive. This area is characterized by a mix of commercial and institutional uses. Also located within the Franconia Triangle are the Franconia District Volunteer Fire Station and the historic Mount Olivet Church site, recently approved to serve as the new home of the Koinonia Foundation. There are many commercial structures within the Franconia Triangle and along Grovedale Drive that are vacant and/or aging.
| | The application site is currently used as the Franconia District Governmental Center, which will also be vacated during the coming month, with all services relocated to the newly constructed Franconia District Governmental Center consolidated facility near the intersection of Beulah Street and the Franconia-Springfield Parkway. This application proposes to rezone the 3.32-acre site to allow development of up to 120 multifamily residential units, including public and private open space areas. | | |
Share Your Thoughts on Potential Changes to Regulations for Accessory Living Units
Potential updates to the county’s zoning regulations for accessory living units (ALUs) are under consideration, and the community is invited to weigh-in through an online survey. ALUs are a secondary dwelling area of a single-family detached residence, often known as in-law suites, basement apartments or guest houses. The Zoning Ordinance contains requirements for ALUs, which include limitations to size, occupancy, entrances, parking and more. Some of these requirements could be updated through an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance.
The community survey offers county residents an opportunity to submit feedback on potential changes for ALU regulations, which county staff will use alongside their analysis to determine next steps. The survey will be open through February 28.
| | S Van Dorn St STARS Study Survey | | |
This STARS (Strategically Targeted Affordable Roadway Solutions) study is assessing potential safety, operational, transit and bicycle/pedestrian improvements along the two-and-a-half-mile stretch of South Van Dorn Street (Route 613) between Telegraph Road (Route 611) and the Alexandria city limits, and along three-quarters of a mile of Franconia Road (Route 644) between Grovedale Drive and South Van Dorn Street.
The proposed alternatives being evaluated are for the following locations within the study corridor:
- South Van Dorn Street and I-95/I-495 (Capital Beltway) ramps.
- South Van Dorn Street and Crown Royal Drive.
- South Van Dorn Street and Franconia Road.
- Franconia Road and Beulah Street.
- South Van Dorn Street and Kingstowne Boulevard.
- South Van Dorn Street and Telegraph Road.
- Multimodal improvements through the South Van Dorn Street corridor and along Franconia Road between Grovedale Drive and South Van Dorn Street.
You can rank the seven alternatives in order of importance using the online form through January 25.
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Source: Virginia Department of Health
The Virginia Department of Health is reporting a confirmed case of measles in a resident of the Northern Region. The patient is a preschool-age child (0-4 years) who recently traveled internationally. This case is unrelated to a recent measles case reported on January 11. To protect the patient’s privacy, VDH will not provide any additional information about the patient. Health officials are coordinating an effort to identify people who might have been exposed and appreciate the active collaboration of affected healthcare facilities.
Listed below are the dates, times, and locations of the potential exposure sites in Virginia:
- PM Pediatric Urgent Care, located at 2690 Prince William Parkway in Woodbridge
- Tuesday, January 13 from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Inova Children’s Emergency Department, located at 3300 Gallows Road in Falls Church
- Thursday, January 15 from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Friday, January 16 from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Inova Fairfax Hospital Women’s and Children’s Building, Floors 2-10, located at 3300 Gallows Road in Falls Church
- Saturday, January 17 at 2:30 a.m. to Sunday, January 18 at 5 p.m.
To date in 2026, Virginia has reported three cases of measles. Any additional exposure sites identified in Virginia will be posted to the VDH Measles website.
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ECHO is in urgent need of food donations. Their list of most needed items can be found here. Donations may be dropped off at their facility at 7205 Old Keene Mill Road from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, Monday through Friday, and from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
ECHO provides food, clothing, housewares and financial assistance to individuals and families in need in the Springfield/Burke community.
| | Community Input Opportunities | | |
Fairfax County Veterans and Military Families Commission
Military Community Survey
The Fairfax County Veterans and Military Families Commission is proud to announce the launch of their needs assessment survey to gather data to identify service gaps in Fairfax County. This survey should take about 15 minutes to complete and will close on February 16, 2026. It is vitally essential for the Fairfax County veteran community, including active-duty service members, veterans, retirees, and military spouses, to complete it so that policymakers and stakeholders in Fairfax County can better serve the veteran and military family community. Take the survey.
Fairfax Forward: Share Your Thoughts on Our Homelessness Response
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The Fairfax County Office to Prevent and End Homelessness is leading a planning effort to improve how our community prevents and responds to homelessness in Fairfax County, Fairfax City, and the City of Falls Church.
The goal is to agree on clear priorities and make better decisions about programs, policies, and funding. This plan will help the community use resources wisely and reduce how often people experience homelessness and how long it lasts.
They are asking for input from people with lived experience of homelessness, service providers, staff, community members and partners. This feedback will help us understand what is working, what is not, and what needs to improve, and will guide the next steps in the planning process. Take the survey.
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Redefine Your Path Virtual Event:
From Federal Expertise to Local Impact
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Discover why your federal government and contracting experience is a valuable asset in local government.
Join professionals as they share practical insights and highlight the advantages of making local government the next step in your career.
Career Focus Areas: Accounting, Finance, Contracting, and Procurement
February 3, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Online
Learn more and register.
| | Affordable Housing Waitlist | | |
The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) will be accepting waitlist applications for Project-Based Voucher (PBV) units Monday, February 2, 2026, through Sunday, February 8, 2026.
Households with a Project-Based Voucher typically pay up to 35 percent of their adjusted monthly income towards rent while the FCRHA pays the remaining portion of the rent to the owner. Units that are accepting waitlist applications are owned by the FCRHA and range from studio to four-bedroom apartments and townhouses. Learn more.
| | Rebuilding Together Home Repair Program | | |
Rebuilding Together Arlington/Fairfax/Falls Church (RT-AFF) provides free critical home repairs and accessibility modifications to help older adults, people with disabilities, and families under financial strain live safely at home. Volunteers can install grab bars and stair rails, improve lighting, make minor plumbing and electrical repairs, ensure proper dryer venting, build wheelchair ramps and more.
Fairfax County homeowners qualify with incomes below $74,800 for individuals or $85,450 for two people, with higher limits for larger households.
To apply, call 703-528-1999 or visit rebuildingtogether-aff.org/apply to download an application and program brochure.
| | Free Virtual Dads' Parenting Group | | |
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The Department of Family Services Father Engagement Unit is currently enrolling fathers for its Winter 2026 virtual and in-person groups. The virtual group begins February 10, 2026. The next in-person group will be held in March in the South County region. Registration is required for both. If you have a father (father figure or caregiver) that you feel may benefit from participating in a group for dads, please don’t hesitate to send a referral.
To refer a family, send an email to BuildingStrongerFamilies@fairfaxcounty.gov, or call our Parent Support Line at 703-324-7720.
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Bach's Lunch Recital Series
St. Mark's Lutheran Church
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