May 21, 2020

Dear Neighbor,

15,685.2 pounds! That's how much food we collected during our Braddock District Stuff the Bus food drive. A huge thanks to all of you who donated.

I'm blown away by the outpouring of support from our wonderful community. It was great to see what we can do when we come together. There were 20 Stuff the Bus locations across Fairfax County and while they all had an amazing response, our Braddock District Office location collected more than double the amount of any other location in the county!

If you couldn't make it out for our Stuff the Bus food drive, you can still donate directly to ECHO. Click here for more information.

Continue reading for more information on:

Yours in Service,

Supervisor James Walkinshaw

The Park Authority has begun reopening parking lots and parks in time for the Memorial Day weekend. Park Authority staff began the process of clearing barricades and opening parking lots at all 427 parks in the county on Wednesday, May 20 and will proceed through Friday, May 22. These parks will reopen for limited use in accordance with COVID-19 safety guidelines from the Virginia Governor’s office and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

All facilities and restrooms will remain closed at this time.

Park visitors are asked to adhere to the physical distancing guidelines and small group guidelines (do not exceed ten people), to avoid closed facilities or apparatus, and to keep in mind that restrooms and park buildings will not be open at this time.

There are certain amenities that will remain closed at this time due in large measure to health safety concerns. Park Authority amenities that are closed are:

To get the latest information about how the coronavirus is impacting parks and find answers to many frequently asked questions, go to the   FCPA Coronavirus Response page  on the Park Authority website. For more information, contact the Park Authority at (703) 324-8700 or send an email to   [email protected] .

The Park Authority and the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services have cancelled all 2020 summer camp programs, Rec-Pac & SACC due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Included in these cancellations are all FCPA sponsored summer camp programs, REC-Pac programs held at local schools, summer camp programs sponsored by NCS and SACC programs.

Collectively, these programs represent childcare and recreational opportunities for thousands of families across Fairfax County. However, after careful consultation with local health officials, school representatives, other regional recreation providers and local government officials, the decision was made to cancel these programs.

Click here to learn more.

Pool, Water Mine and Our Special Harbor to remain closed this Summer

The Fairfax County Park Authority will not open its outdoor water attractions this summer due to COVID-19. The popular Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole at Lake Fairfax Park in Reston and Our Special Harbor Spray Ground at Lee District Family Recreation Area will remain closed this summer. Also closed is Martin Luther King Jr. pool. Similar actions were announced Wednesday by Prince William Parks & Recreation, echoing closures across the region.

Water parks, spray grounds and pools are greatly constrained by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines governing safe use by the public. Current CDC guidelines suggest that people not visit water and spray parks. Operational challenges -- with social distancing, limits to the number of people inside facilities and the pools, the use of recommended safety masks, protocols for public and staff safety -- are significant.

Click here to visit FCPA's FAQs list.

We would like to remind you that there is COVID-19 testing available in Fairfax County and surrounding jurisdictions.

If you have danger signs, such as trouble breathing, pain or pressure in chest, confusion or inability to arouse, or bluish lips or face, call 911.  

Click here for a three page resource guide with action steps and local testing centers who are accepting uninsured patients.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has established a $5 million fund to support 501(c)3 and 501(c)19 nonprofit organizations, whose primary work currently supports social safety net services to vulnerable populations within Fairfax County.

The grant application process began, May 15, and concludes tomorrow, May 22 at 2 p.m.

Called the Nonprofit Sustainability Grants program, it will offer grants to qualified nonprofit organizations in one of three amounts, $25,000, $50,000 and $75,000, depending on the size of the organization and operating budget. The program will be funded with stimulus funds from the federal CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund.  

Click here to learn more.

Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority ( WMATA)  will close all Metrorail Orange and Silver Line stations in Fairfax County beginning this Memorial Day weekend, Saturday, May 23. These adjustments to WMATA’s current construction efforts on the Silver Line and the up-coming platform reconstruction efforts on the Orange Line address the health and safety of WMATA’s workers operating the rail system and the contractors working on these two major capital projects.

It also considers the low ridership on Metrorail related to the impacts of COVID-19 and the current Stay-at-Home Orders in place across the National Capital Region

The expanded station closures will advance the two largest capital projects in Virginia - the demolition and reconstruction of the station platforms at four Metrorail Orange Line stations and work to connect the six new Metrorail Silver Line stations to the existing transit network. The closures begin Memorial Day weekend 2020 and are expected to continue through the fall. 

Click here to learn more.

Congressman Gerry Connolly of Virginia's 11th District has extended the deadline for the 2020 Congressional Art Competition to Friday, May 22.

The purpose of this competition is to offer high school students an opportunity to share their talents and be recognized even in difficult times. Students do not need to create artwork specifically for this competition – they can submit any piece from their portfolio. Paintings, photographs, drawings, sculptures, are just some of the pieces of artwork most commonly submitted.

Click here more information on how to participate.

The primary purpose of the Fairfax RISE (RISE – Relief Initiative to Support Employers) grant program is to provide immediate relief to small businesses and non-profits impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Fairfax County hopes to help small businesses and nonprofit organizations remain in business through the COVID-19 emergency and address gaps that may exist among complementary programs. The grant will not have to be repaid.

The grant program also establishes a minimum allocation of 30% of total funding towards awards for women-owned, minority-owned, and/or veteran-owned businesses. It is funded through an allocation of the Coronavirus Relief Funds provided through the federal CARES Act.

The application process is expected to begin in early June 2020. Sign-up to be notified when the grant application process is open. 

Click here to learn more and register for notifications.

Fairfax County Public Library’s Contactless Curbside Service program begins Monday, June 1. 

Curbside Pickup hours at all branches are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

 

To pick up your holds, please park in the designated area of your library’s lot and call the branch phone number. Provide your library card number to staff on the phone and remain in your car until your holds have been deposited on the pickup table and library staff have returned to the building. 

 

You may request a particular book or a grab bag based on your reading preferences by calling the branch. Contacting the library with requests ahead of time will provide a faster pickup experience.

 

All returned library materials should be deposited in the library’s book drop. Do not return library materials to staff or the pickup tables. 

Fairfax County has added a new volunteer opportunity to the county volunteer website. This is geared for volunteers to assist with the Shopping and Pharmacy Pick Up for Older Adults. This initiative is being managed jointly by the Health Department's Neighbor to Neighbor Program and the Fire and Rescue Department.

 

If you are interested in volunteering, visit volunteer.fairfaxcounty.gov (VMS). There you can fill out the requested information and register online as a new volunteer. 

Please note: You will have to have a criminal background check to participate as a volunteer. 

Click here to learn more and volunteer.

To Request Shopping and Pharmacy Pick-Up Help

Contact

the Fairfax County Aging, Disability & Caregiver Resource Line

(703) 324-7948

JUNE 23, 2020 PRIMARY ELECTIONS

On Election Day Polls Are Open From 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.

GENERAL INFORMATION

CANDIDATES

Republican Primary Election - Member, United States Senate

Democratic Primary Election - Member, United States House of Representatives, 11th Congressional District

NOTE: Due to COVID-19, all voters are eligible and strongly encouraged to vote absentee. When requesting a mail in ballot, people can use 2A as the reason for the request.   Click  here  to request a ballot.

You can also access printable applications  here. Additionally, the courts have determined that the witness signature is not required if you have concerns that it would require your coming into contact with others under during the pandemic.

The Health Department is asking for your support with the donation of sewn cloth face coverings to protect the most vulnerable within the community. The cloth face covering donations will support our nonprofit providers and the low-income client households they serve.

Hand-sewn cloth face coverings can be regularly laundered for long-term use.

Click here to donate.