Dear Neighbor,

For more information on the anticipated closure, please see the Fairfax County Parks News website.

Recently, we have received a notable influx of calls regarding American Disposal's lack of consistent service. First, I want you to know that I share your frustration with late or missed pick-ups, customer service shortcomings, and opaque pricing. While Fairfax County is not a party to the contract you have with your private hauler, we do work to investigate and address complaints regarding late or missed pick-ups.

American Disposal and approximately 20 other private haulers are licensed to collect waste in Fairfax County. That system was designed to promote competition in pricing and service quality. Clearly, it has not succeeded. Smaller private haulers do not service many neighborhoods in Fairfax County because they are unable to acquire enough customers to achieve the "route density" necessary to be profitable. Furthermore, the current system of 2-3 private haulers servicing many neighborhoods means 6-9 trucks per week rumbling through our neighborhoods, generating significant air and noise pollution.

Given the ongoing challenges and shortcomings of the current system, I have been advocating that we evaluate potential systemic reforms and alternate approaches. While continuing to work with the private haulers to ensure compliance with the existing County Code, staff are researching systemic improvements that can be made. As is often the case, it appears that Virginia law places some restrictions on our ability to change the current system. But I will continue to share information as our work progresses.

Supervisor Walkinshaw is excited to continue hosting the annual Braddock Nights Concert and Children’s Arts in the Parks Series! Every event includes a free raffle where two audience members can win a Summer Entertainment Series t-shirt! Arrive by the start of the event to get a raffle ticket. If you are interested in volunteering, contact the Braddock District office at (703) 425-9300 or Irma.Mejia-Lewis@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Today, a WTOP report pointed to an urgent need for blood donations. Inova Blood Donor Services has indicated that they have only a two-day inventory of blood available and is asking for your help. Donations and inventory have not dipped this low since January, when the American Red Cross declared its first ever national blood crisis. Blood donations typically drop over the summer. To find a blood drive near you, visit the Inova Blood Donation page.

The shredding event will take place from 7:00–11:00 a.m., unless the trucks fill up prior to the end time. All participants must be in line by 11:00 a.m. to be served. There is a four (4) box limit, based on standard banker/copy box size (12.5” W x 15.5” L x 10.5” H). If you bring documents in plastic bags, please do not tie them. All boxes, plastic/paper bags, or other containers will be returned to you after emptying.

The shredding event will be on Saturday, August 13 at the Mason District Government Center — 6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale. You can find more information here.

In August, Fairfax County will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the conversion of the Lake Accotink site into the outdoor recreational gem that it is today! Join the Friends of Lake Accotink Park (FLAP), Supervisor James Walkinshaw, and the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) in celebrating this beautiful mainstay of our Braddock District community.

If you are available to help FLAP and FCPA celebrate this momentous occasion, there are plenty of volunteer opportunities and shifts throughout the day! Sign up here to join FLAP's corps of volunteers, and you will receive a t-shirt for your time and help during the celebration.

Approximately 70,000 Fairfax County and City of Fairfax residents will be receiving a jury duty questionnaire in the mail soon. A questionnaire is not a guarantee that someone will be selected for service, but it is the beginning of a screening process to determine who is qualified to serve. It can be filled out physically or online.

If you qualify for the jury pool, you will receive a summons for jury duty by mail approximately one month before your reporting date. Keep in mind that this is an official court summons and if you do not respond, you could be found in contempt of court. The evening before your assigned date you will need to call a recorded message or check the jury website to find out whether your group number (listed on the summons) is called for service. If your group number is not called, you do not have to report and your service is finished. However, you may be summoned again in the near future. For more information, visit the Fairfax County news article on Jury Duty.

For more information on the climate action programs being undertaken by the NVRC, visit the new NVRC Storymaps.

Braddock District Council (BDC) is back in action and is looking for new members and renewed energy! At the June 15 Council meeting, the following officers were elected to serve for a one-year term: Chair, Bob Cosgriff (Hickory Farms); Vice-Chair, Sarah Lennon (Kings Park West); and Treasurer, Kevin Morse (Woodwalk/Burke Centre). They are looking for a volunteer to serve as Secretary. The next BDC meeting will be Wednesday, September 21, at Braddock Hall (9002 Burke Lake Road). This meeting serves as the BDC’s required annual meeting and will feature Supervisor Walkinshaw’s annual Town Hall meeting. Please mark the date on your calendar, and plan on attending.

·      Representing the interests of all community associations in the Braddock District

·      Facilitating cooperation and coordination among member organizations

·      Providing a direct path of communications between member organizations and local government agencies

·      Magnifying the impact of our community voices through enhanced communication

·      Sharing Best Practices among local community organizations that can help improve your association’s management

·      Receiving up-to-date, first-hand information from local officials

·      Taking advantage of the opportunity to voice opinions on District, County, State, and School Board issues

·      Getting to know neighboring community associations and neighbors

·      Working collaboratively with other associations to identify and devise local solutions

·      Raising awareness of needs for services in your community

·      Supporting annual events including the Best of Braddock Citizen Awards, Taste of Braddock, and summer concert events that are important initiatives of Supervisor Walkinshaw

·      Inspiring other community volunteers in your community

Membership dues should be sent to:

Attn. Sally Kidalov

For additional information on the BDC, please contact Sally Kidalov in Supervisor Walkinshaw’s office, or plan to attend the September 21 meeting.

Since the BA.5 variant of COVID-19 became the dominant strain in the United States, many are wondering what resources are available in Fairfax. If you are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19, effective treatment is available that can prevent illness from becoming worse, leading to hospitalization and death.

Fairfax residents continue to be encouraged to get the COVID-19 vaccine and stay up-to-date on their boosters. If you are eligible for a vaccination or a booster, please visit the federal resource page for COVID-19 vaccines or book an appointment through the Fairfax County Health Department. Vaccines are available to all individuals over 6 months of age.

If you tested positive for COVID-19, or have been exposed, it is important to take the steps recommended by the Fairfax County Health Department to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in your family and in the community.

Check the most up-to-date COVID figures at the Virginia Department of Health website.

Receive free at-home tests from the Postal Service.

Receive free vision-impaired at-home tests from the Postal Service.

Check your at-home tests for their extended expiration date.

As Monkeypox has become of greater concern to Fairfax County residents in the past weeks, the County has released resources and information on the Monkeypox virus. The Fairfax County Health Department is working with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and with other local public health agencies to respond to outbreaks of monkeypox occurring in the U.S. and in other countries.