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Friday, November 1st, 2024

Dear Friend, 

I hope you had a happy and safe Halloween yesterday and Happy Diwali and Día de los Muertos to those who celebrate. If you are looking to get rid of your old pumpkins, see the Pumpkin Palooza section later in the newsletter to learn how they canbe composted.

The last day of early voting is tomorrow Saturday, November 2, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at all early voting locations. After tomorrow, you can vote on Tuesday, November 5 on Election Day at your local precinct polling location. Find your precinct here: https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation. If you have not registered yet to vote, Virginia is a same-day registration state. You can go to you polling location and ask for help on registering. Once registered you will receive a provisional ballot. You can check your registration status here.

The County and my office are closed on Election Day, but if you are in need of assistance, you can call the Office of Elections at 703-222-0776 where staff will be available to answer public phone calls from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. (the times the polls are open). The office itself will be open starting at 8 a.m. and will be closing at 7 p.m.

November is Military Family Appreciation Month and Native American Heritage Month. More information on these celebrations later in the newsletter.

On Tuesday this week the Board of Supervisors met for committee meetings. You can find recordings of all committee meetings HERE and find the dates, agendas and source documents for all Board committe meetings HERE.

The Legislative Committee discussed the potential inclusion of language into the Fairfax County Legislative Program which is provided to lawmakers at the state and federal levels to make clear what our legislative priorities are. The first point of discussion was on whether to add language stating "Localities should be granted additional authority to address the environmental and community impacts of data centers." This language is in regard to supporting the collection and reporting of energy and water usage by data centers. Currently, studies are being done to determine the environmental impacts data centers have. With these results the state can then require data centers to report their energy and water usage and make it publicly accessible for everyone.

The draft Legislative Program will be available to the public on November 14th, followed by the public hearing on November 19th, during the regular Board of Supervisors meeting.

Next, the Information Technology Committee was provided an update on efforts to modernize our technological tax infrastructure. These improvements were made after a Board Matter in 2022 directed staff to improve the resident customer service experience and provide more flexibility and transparency to residents. It also discussed an update from the Department of Information Technology on our data architecture and analytics.

The Environmental Committee had three very important presentations. The first was the presentation by Fairfax Water regarding new regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency on poly-and per-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) issued in April this year. PFAS are a group of over 10,000 man-made chemicals that have been in use since the 1940's and are found throughout our environment. Studies say that the great majority of PFAS exposure comes from our diet and dust, but about a quarter of our exposure is through water. Fairfax Water began monitoring for PFAS in 2021 and their data indicates the following:

"Our data shows that the PFNA, HFPO-DA (commonly known as GenX chemicals), PFHxS, and PFBS levels in our water are all below the Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL) and Hazard Index (HI.)

PFOA and PFOS results for Potomac treated water are less than the MCL of 4.0 parts per trillion (ppt). PFOA and PFOS results for the Griffith Water Treatment Plant, which treats water from the Occoquan Reservoir, are slightly above the MCL of 4.0 ppt." (From https://www.fairfaxwater.org/water-quality/facts-about-pfas)

The EPA has announced that public water systems have 5 years to implement solutions to reduce these PFAS to come into compliance. Fairfax Water presented to the Board a $389 million plan to meet the EPA requirements and ensure that Fairfax Water continues to provide safe and high-quality water to our residents. This will include additional studies as well as design and construction of new PFAS-removal treatment infrastructure.

Also presented at the Environmental Committee was an update on the 20-Year Solid Waste Management Plan from the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services. The focus was primarily on presenting public feedback from a recent survey that covered a number of topics including zero waste fees, pay-as-you-throw, and unified sanitary districts. One last presentation covered our operational energy strategy which included an update on our electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Lastly, the Transportation committee met and received an update on the 495 NEXT Project and the 495 Southside Express Lanes Study. The 495 NEXT project construction began in March 2022 and the Express Lanes are expected to open in late 2025 with total construction completed in mid-2026. The 495 Southside Express Lanes study area spans “from the Springfield Interchange (I -95/I -395/I -495) in Fairfax County, VA, across the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge, to the MD 210 interchange in Prince George’s County, MD.” VDOT are studying multiple scenarios including No-Build, 1 Express Lane each way, and 2 Express Lanes each way. They have also studied and presented the existing and future traffic conditions with comparisons between the three options should they be implemented. They also provided information that they are considering bicycle and pedestrian facilities for inclusion in the project and that a rail preservation commitment would be incorporated into the environment (NEPA) process. VDOT will be holding public information meetings to present their findings in early 2025. Below is the rest of the expected timeline.

Lastly, the Transportation Committee received an update on our local authority to reduce speed limits in certain scenarios. Recently passed laws gave localities the ability to reduce speed limits to 15 mph in areas that have an existing speed limit of 25 mph and are located in a business or residence district. Staff have recommended a pilot program to study the impact of reducing the speed limit and discussion was had on this pilot and what this program might look like moving forward. The Board only provided feedback at this time. 

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

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Kaiser Permanente-COG Regional Homelessness Forum - October 24

Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking and being a panel moderator at the Kaiser Permanente-COG Regional Homelessness Forum. This Forum was created by George Leventhal in 2020 to support regional collaboration in ending homelessness by bringing government and service providers together to share best practices and build connections across Kaiser’s footprint, which includes the DC and Baltimore regions. In 2021, the COG Board passed a Resolution creating a Regional Compact to End Homelessness. This was because we recognized that no single sector can solve homelessness on its own, and no one jurisdiction can end homelessness on its own. There are larger, systemic issues impacting us all. Forums like today’s allow regional leaders to identify, and then work together to remove, the barriers to housing faced by residents in each of our communities.

Kappa Alpha Psi Aviation Program - October 26

Student Aviators

Kenneth Bynum and T. “Woody” Woodyard

I want to thank the Alexandria Fairfax Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. for inviting me to observe their teen aviation program. The ten-week program educates participants through hands on interaction with realistic flight simulators and exciting classroom instruction. I am excited for this new generation of aviators.

ArtsFairfax Awards - October 25

Photos by A.E.Landes Photography

Thank you to ArtsFairfax, for inviting me to their annual awards ceremony. As Fairfax County’s local arts agency, ArtsFairfax serves more than 200 arts and culture nonprofits by distributing County funds to the arts, connecting artists and arts organizations to each other and to other sectors, and promoting arts and culture activities for approximately 1.2 million County residents. I am happy to support them and their commitment to bring the arts to our residents.

Removing Racial Covenants Workshop - October 26

Clerk of the Court Chris Falcon (left) and Senator Scott Surovell

Dr. Krystyn Moon, Professor of History and American Studies at the University of Mary Washington

This past weekend, I joined Senator Surovell and Chris Falcon, Clerk of the Court, at their workshop for residents to remove racial covenants from their property documents. During this workshop a presentation on the history of racial covenants in Fairfax County as well as a map showed the areas where racial covenants are still in property documents today. At the conclusion of the presentation residents were able to ask questions and afterwards were released to go to the tables in which staff from various departments had assisted them in removing the racial wordage from their property documents. Check if your home likely has a racial covenant using the interactive map at: documentingexclusion.org/map

Fairfax CASA 35th Anniversary - October 27

This year marks the 35th anniversary of Fairfax Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) opening its doors. Since their opening in 1989, they have gone on to serve just shy of 9,000 vulnerable children from our community, utilizing nearly 1,900 incredible volunteers who have ensured that the children they serve do not slip through the cracks of the child welfare system. I was glad to be able to join them in this celebration and recognize the important work they are doing to help children and families in our county.

Penn Daw Coat Drive - October 28

Thank you to Willie Bailey and the Penn Daw Fire Station for collecting and distributing coats to the residents of Richmond Highway.

Good Shepherd Housing Trunk or Treat - October 28

Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services

Good Shepherd Housing

United Community

Thank you to Good Shepherd Housing for inviting me to their Trunk or Treat at the Colchester Townhomes neighborhood. I enjoyed going to each trunk and seeing the great resources and services provided to our residents.

Capital Area Food Bank Tours the Workforce Innovation and Skills Hub (WISH) - November 1

On November 1, 2024, representatives from the Capital Area Food Bank toured the WISH with representatives from Building Momentum and Supervisor Lusk to learn about facility programs and explore partnership opportunities to benefit the community. The WISH offers free employment skills training and support services to youth and adults within our community.  The WISH is located within the Hybla Valley Community Center at 7950 Audubon Avenue, Alexandria VA 22306. See the below flyer for free upcoming training opportunities.

Click the image to view the flyer expanded.

One of the best parts of my job as Supervisor is getting to know you in your community. 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.

Delivering to Supervisor Palchik's Office

Supervisor Herrity's office delivering their boo basket

Every year the Board of Supervisor's offices participate in exchanging Halloween-themed boo baskets. Thank you to Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity's office for stopping by with an excellent array of candies and Halloween themed treats. This year we delivered a boo basket to Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik. We hope you enjoyed your candy and gifts.

Virginia Passenger Rail Authority Franconia-Springfield Bypass Community Meeting

Click on the image to view the picture expanded

Franconia-Springfield Bypass, located just south of Franconia-Springfield station, is a rail bridge that will allow passenger trains to cross over the freight trains. This is necessary because the passenger rail stations south of the bypass are located on the east side of the railroad tracks and the passenger rail stations north of the bypass are located on the west side of the railroad tracks. Currently there is an at-grade crossing to allow passenger trains to switch sides with the freight trains, however this creates a bottleneck and significant delays. The bridge structure will eliminate the conflict, reduce congestion, increase capacity and reliability for freight and passenger trains, and improve safety. Project construction includes a single track on the Bypass Bridge with accommodations for a future second track.

There will be a community meeting for the VPRA's Franconia-Springfield Bypass Project and the Right of Way (ROW) Acquisition Process.

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

6:00pm-7:30pm

Franconia Government Center

Community Room

6121 Franconia Rd

Alexandria, VA 22310

April 2025 Proposed Fairfax Connector Service Changes

Fairfax Connector will host two virtual public meetings on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at noon and Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. to discuss proposed service changes in in April 2025. Route 352 and 353 run within the Franconia District.

These adjustments will realign bus service, increase frequency, discontinue Route 599 (duplicate route after 598 was implemented), and add new Route 652.

Virtual Meeting Information:

• Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 12 noon
• Join the meeting on Microsoft Teams
• Call the meeting: 571-429-5982; Conference ID: 299 038 507#
• Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m.
• Join the meeting on Microsoft Teams
• Call the meeting: 571-429-5982; Conference ID: 383 053 31#

Following the meeting (s), a recording as well as a pdf file of the presentation, will be posted to the Fairfax Connector website.

Comments will be accepted through Tuesday, Nov. 26, via the April 2025 Fairfax Connector Service Change survey, which will be available on Nov. 12. 

Celebrate Military Families Month at the Museum of the U.S. Army

November is Military Family Appreciation Month, a time to celebrate the incredible strength and resilience of military families across the nation. These families endure unique challenges, from frequent relocations to extended separations, all while maintaining unwavering support for their service members. Their sacrifices often go unnoticed, yet they are the backbone that enables our armed forces to operate effectively. This month, let us take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to these families for their commitment, love, and dedication. Join us in recognizing their contributions and ensuring they feel valued and supported, not just during this special month, but throughout the entire year.

Enjoy a day of outdoor games, activities, crafts and opportunities to learn more about community resources on November 2. Everyone is welcome! These special activities are included in your FREE Museum admission ticket in honor of Military Family Month and Veterans Day.

Celebrate Veterans Day at the Museum of the U.S. Army from November 9-11. There will be crafts, story time, and demonstrations. All activities are FREE.

Plan your visit.

Native American Heritage Month



November also marks Native American Heritage Month, a time to honor and celebrate the rich cultures, traditions, and histories of Indigenous peoples across the United States. As we acknowledge the resilience and strength of Native communities, let us also commit to promoting understanding and respect for their rights and heritage. We recognize the vibrant diversity of Native cultures and supporting efforts to uplift Indigenous voices and stories throughout our communities for future generations. To learn more, click here.

Pink River LLC - Planning Commission Hearing December 4, 2024 

The Learning Center is a new childcare facility proposed by Pink River LLC to accommodate up to 180 children.  The proposed center would feature a 10,000-square-foot building using materials like brick and stucco. The facility would operate weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. with about 18 employees, ensuring that play areas are safely designed for childcare use. The Special Exception application, SE 2024-FR-0021 is currently scheduled for a public hearing before the Planning Commission on December 4, 2024.

Additional Land Use Cases

November 13: Planning Commission decision-only on Amherst Avenue and Springfield Boulevard Site-Specific Plan Amendments

November 19: Board of Supervisors public hearing on Amherst Avenue and Springfield Boulevard Site-Specific Plan Amendments

November 21: Deadline to provide feedback on adopted revisions to the Workforce Dwelling Unit policies (Learn more)

December 4: Planning Commission hearing for Pink River, LLC. SE 2024-FR-00021 (Read the staff report)

My office is hosting a coat distribution over at the Hybla Valley Community Center this Saturday, November 2nd from 10am to 1pm, thanks to the coat donations from Firefighters & Friends. This distribution will serve the 5 communities of Audubon, Colchester, Harmony Place, Creekside, and Sequoyah. Along with picking up their coat, children will also be able warm up with Hot Chocolate and enjoy a tasty treat of Pan Dulce. Official registration is closed, however, if you would like to be added to the waitlist, please contact 703-725-7190.

Click the image to view the flyer expanded.

Click on image to expand

Next Thursday, November 7th, there will a Manufactured Housing Community Conversations at the Hybla Valley Community Center. Residents in Audubon Estates and Harmony Place are encouraged to register and participate in this conversation. Come learn about Fairfax County’s new Manufactured Housing program. Residents will be able to learn about the updates that are occurring on initiatives. 

Fairfax County officials are issuing an urgent warning to residents about a surge in jury duty scams targeting local citizens. In recent days, the county has received an alarming number of reports— with a surge of incoming calls related to this fraudulent activity. Residents, both from Fairfax County and surrounding jurisdictions, have reported receiving phone calls, voicemails, and emails claiming they have missed jury duty, specifically federal grand jury duty.

These communications falsely indicate that citations or arrest warrants have been issued and threaten the recipients with arrest by Deputy Sheriffs if they do not respond immediately to rectify the supposed issues or click the link to ‘reschedule’.

 "Fairfax Circuit Court will NEVER ask for money or any type of monetary fees when re-scheduling jury duty. We urge everyone to remain vigilant and to verify any such communications they receive regarding jury duty.”

Officials are advising the public to:

1. Do Not Respond: Avoid providing personal information over the phone or via email. Do not click links or open attachments from unknown sources.

2. Verify Communications: Contact the official Fairfax County court offices directly if you have doubts about your jury duty status. Fairfax Circuit Court’s Jury Department can be reached by calling (703) 246-2292 or visiting www.fairfaxcounty.gov/circuit/Jury/general-information.

3. Spread the Word: Share this information with friends, family, and neighbors to help protect our community from these scams.

Join the Fairfax County Park Authority and Supervisor Rodney Lusk for an afternoon of free outdoor fun on Monday, November 4, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Muddy Hole Farm Park (7941 Kidd Street).

The festivities will feature the Wonder Wagon, the Park Authority’s Mobile Nature Center, offering engaging activities, games, and hands-on experiences for all ages and will also commemorate the official ribbon-cutting for the new playground at the park.

The Fairfax County Park Authority released the following statement:

"Earlier this fall, the Fairfax County Park Authority began an assessment of the Lake Accotink dam. Regular assessments of the dam structure are conducted every few years to evaluate structural integrity and identify any potential needs for maintenance and/or repair. Lowering the water level by up to 5 feet is necessary to perform an adequate inspection of the structure.

Since Oct. 11, the water level at the lake has been lowered by approximately 2 feet, with the removal of debris along the top of the dam wall and flashboards. Unfortunately, when divers inspected the sluice gates at the base of the dam, they found that a large amount of debris had accumulated. This debris must be removed before being able to safely operate the gates to drain the remaining water and to complete the assessment. It is expected that the dive team will be able to return and complete the work this winter.

Once the dam assessment is complete, it may take up to two months for water levels to return to their original state, depending on weather conditions. The Park Authority anticipates that the dam assessment will be completed in advance of the spring opening of the marina. Until that time, the marina and dam area will continue to be fenced with warning signs in place to remind park patrons to keep off the exposed lakebed as a safety precaution.

Lake Accotink is located at 7500 Accotink Park Road in Springfield, Virginia. For more information about the project, please contact the Public Information Office at Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov."

We are excited to share a new update to our Fairfax County Police Department's Open Data Portal crime dashboards.

Pursuant to your feedback, FCPD have added a Magisterial District filter to their crime dashboards. This new filter will allow you to see crime data by your Board of Supervisors District.

Check out our crime dashboards and take a look at all the data FCPD provide: Fairfax County Police Crime Mapping Dashboard (arcgis.com)

Click on the image to expand

In honor of Fairfax Recycles Day, Clean Fairfax invites you to recycle some trickier items on November 16th. Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services will be hosting a Take-Back Day at the Gerry Hyland (South County) Government Center (8350 Richmond Highway) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Recyclables you can drop off on Fairfax Recycles Day include e-waste, glass, food scraps, batteries, textiles, and plastic bags. Only small e-waste items can be accepted at this event (smaller than 24” x 24”, such as laptops, computers, cell phones, toner and ink cartridges, mice, keyboards, power supplies, and audio equipment). 

Do you ever wonder what happens to all of the things we throw in our recycling bins? Earlier this year, Clean Fairfax visited a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) to see how commingled recycling is collected, sorted, baled, and prepared for recycling (watch the reel). It takes a lot of resources and labor to recycle, and we appreciate the dedication of our waste workers in doing this indispensable and at times dangerous work.

To make their jobs easier and to improve our recycling success rate, please remember to clean, dry, and sort your recyclables before placing them in your bin. This helps prevent contamination of the recycling stream. The most valuable things to recycle are paper, cardboard, and aluminum and tin cans. Follow your trash and recycling hauler’s guidelines as to what they can and cannot accept. When in doubt, throw it out - “wishcycling” only contaminates the system.

Did you know that you can also recycle your cell phones and batteries anytime at one of the County’s new battery recycling drop off locations? Thanks to funding from the $0.05 plastic bag tax, a battery collection center has been established at the Franconia Governmental Center.

Aluminum beverage cans compacted, baled, and ready for recycling. Photo credit: Clean Fairfax

Are you wondering what to do with your pumpkin after the fall holidays?

If home composting isn’t an option, take part in the annual Pumpkin Palooza! This year, the Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Program will turn your post-Halloween pumpkins into compost gold. Just bring them to the pumpkin collection cans, along with your gourds, at the I-95 Landfill Complex or I-66 Transfer Station on the following dates and times.

October 28 – November 15:

• Monday – Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday & Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Make sure all decorations, including glitter, paint and candle wax, have been removed to prevent the pumpkins from being rejected for composting.

Vacuum Leaf Collection will begin on Monday, November 4th. Fairfax County provides vacuum leaf collection from the curb three times each season to designated leaf collection areas in Fairfax County. For more information, you can visit the county website here.

Report service issues or missed collections using the solid waste feedback form or call 703-802-3322, TTY 711.

To view if you are in a leaf collection area click on the link below.

 Vacuum Leaf Collection Areas (arcgis.com)

The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) FY 2024 Annual Report highlights the positive difference CSB services are making in the lives of people in our community.

In FY 2024, CSB staff provided lifesaving services to more than 22,550 individuals experiencing challenges with mental health, substance use and/or developmental disabilities. This is the highest number of individuals the CSB has served in one year and represents a 3.5% increase from FY 2023 and an 11.5% increase from FY 2021.

• 6,149 individuals received mental health treatment services.
• 5,344 individuals with developmental disabilities received support coordination services.
• 1,355 individuals received substance use disorder treatment services.
• 7,269 individuals received CSB emergency services.

The report also details the implementation of new programs and expanded services for the community, including:

• Opening of a new Youth Medication-Assisted Treatment (YMAT) clinic in South County for opioid treatment, providing community located services for youth.
• Strengthening the crisis care response to the community. 600 callers were transferred from 911 to the 988 Regional Crisis Call Center in FY 2024 to receive behavioral health assistance.
• Preparing to respond to an unprecedented opportunity of new developmental disabilities waivers to be offered to individuals in Fairfax County.
• Preparing to provide 300 new housing vouchers available for Fairfax County residents with serious mental illness, in partnership with the local housing authority.

View the report.

Fairfax Water - Frank R. Begovich

Fairfax Water is a public, not-for-profit water authority serving over 2 million people in Northern Virginia. Their mission is to provide customers with reliable and abundant water of exceptional quality at a reasonable price. Chartered in 1957 by the Virginia State Corporation Commission, Fairfax Water is governed by a 10-member Board composed of Fairfax County citizens and appointed by the elected Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Fairfax Water is Virginia’s largest water utility and one of the 25 largest water utilities in the country. Through prudent financial planning, Fairfax Water’s rates are one of the lowest in the region. You are encouraged to review the 2024 Annual Water Quality Report.

Frank R. Begovich (above), the Franconia District representative also serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Fairfax Water. Mr. Begovich has been a resident of the Franconia District since 1971 and has served on the Board of Fairfax Water for 20 years. Prior to joining the Board, Mr. Begovich served as a US Army officer, where he received the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, and nine other awards. After returning from Vietnam, his career focused on the design of security systems. 

Fairfax Water’s Board typically meets the first and third Thursday of each month at their main office, which is located at 8570 Executive Park Avenue in Fairfax. Notices of public hearings and other opportunities for public participation are posted on the website at www.fairfaxwater.org. If you plan to attend a meeting or need more information, contact Fairfax Water at 703-698-5600 (TTY 711) to confirm the date and time for the meeting.

To learn more about Fairfax Water, including their Lead-Free Fairfax program, please visit www.fairfaxwater.org.

Vacancies – Volunteer Your Time and Knowledge



Consider serving your community as a representative on a Board, Authority or Commission. I encourage you to send a statement of interest and your resume to me for consideration. The following opportunities exist to serve the Franconia Community:

Advisory Social Services Board - The Advisory Social Services Board (ASSB) interests itself in all matters pertaining to the social welfare of the people served by the Fairfax County Government. The Board monitors the formation and implementation of social welfare programs; meets with the Director of Social Services (in Fairfax County it is the Director of Family Services) at least four times annually for the purpose of making recommendations on policy matters; makes an annual report to the governing body concerning the administration of the public welfare program; and submits to the governing body other reports the advisory body deems appropriate.

Barbara Varon Volunteer Award Selection Committee - This award is given annually to a Fairfax County resident whose dedication to improving the community through volunteer service honors the memory of Barbara Varon, former Chairman of the Fairfax County Electoral Board.

Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC) – The purpose of EQAC is to advise the Board of Supervisors on environmental matters through ongoing review of the quality of the County's physical environment and to advocate and promote environmental preservation, protection, and enhancement.

History Commission - The mission of the Fairfax History Commission is to advise the County Government, to promote and encourage public interest in all matters bearing on the history of Fairfax County, and to help identify, document, record and preserve our County's historic past here in Northern Virginia. 

It's that time of year again, remember to set your clocks back 1 hour as Daylight Saving Time ends this Sunday, November 3rd at 2 a.m.

Since the day becomes darker earlier, the Virginia department of Transportation is reminding folks they must remember the risk increase from traveling in the dark. One of the biggest adjustments will involve less visibility during the evening rush hour, so motorists and pedestrians and other vulnerable road users should be extra attentive. Other risks include fatigue that can contribute to drowsy driving and compromised night vision, especially for older people. 

Night driving is dangerous because visibility is limited to about 250 feet for normal headlights, which creates less time to react to something in the road, especially when driving at higher speeds. VDOT urges people to follow these safety tips for driving in the dark: 

·        Aim your headlights correctly, and make sure they're clean. 

·        Dim your dashboard. 

·        Look away from oncoming lights. 

·        Clean the windshield to eliminate streaks. 

·        Slow down to compensate for limited visibility and reduced stopping time. 

For vulnerable road users: 

·        Be predictable, follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals.  

·        Wear reflective clothing and carry a blinking light or flashlight. 

·        Plan a route in a well-lit area with safe crossings. 

·        Avoid distractions, alcohol and drugs, and be alert.  

·        Walk on sidewalks facing traffic. If there’s no sidewalk, walk facing traffic as far from traffic as possible. 

·        Watch for cars backing up, especially in parking lots and driveways.  

·        Cross at crosswalks or intersections – where drivers expect pedestrians.

While crossing, look for cars in all directions, including those turning left or right, and make eye contact with turning drivers before proceeding when possible. 

November 2: Fairfax County History Conference (Learn more and register)

November 3: Venture in Volunteering Fair (click the image to view the flyer)

November 4: Vacuum leaf collection begins (Learn more)

November 7: Manufactured Housing Community Conversations

November 16: Fairfax Recycles Day