11.14.24

Dear Neighbor,

On Wednesday, December 4, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. in Braddock Hall (9002 Burke Lake Road, Burke), the Braddock District Council and I will be hosting our annual Best of Braddock Awards Ceremony and Reception.

The reception is open to the entire community and will kick off with hors d'oeuvres and desserts, and a chance to mingle and network with community members from across the Braddock District.

Then, join me and other community leaders for an awards ceremony to recognize the individuals and organizations who have put in the work to make their neighborhood or broader community a great place to live, work, and play.

I hope to see you there!

Santa Trains

The Virginia Railway Express's popular Santa Trains will return on December 14! Kids will have the chance to ride a VRE train to meet Santa and friends, learn about rail safety, and receive candy canes and coloring books from Santa's helpers.

This is one of my family's favorite events of the year and is a great way to kick off the holiday season!

You can buy tickets for the Burke Centre Santa Trains in-person on Monday, December 2, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Kings Park Library (9000 Burke Lake Road, Burke), one of the in-person ticket sales locations.

Online tickets will go on sale on Tuesday, December 3 at 10:00 a.m. Visit the VRE website for more information.

GMU West Campus Development Town Hall

Residents who live or travel near George Mason University (GMU) know that GMU activities and land use decisions can have a significant impact on the community.

GMU will host an in-person town hall on Wednesday, December 11, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Fairfax City Hall (10455 Armstrong Street, Fairfax) to present an update on their concepts for development of their West Campus which may include a mix of upgraded athletic facilities, student and faculty housing, and retail.

During the town hall, you will have the opportunity to hear directly from representatives on project objectives, potential components of the development, and more. Earlier this year, GMU chose not to move forward with their earlier proposal to build a temporary cricket stadium, but other development options remain on the table.

I encourage members of the community to attend, ask questions, and provide their feedback and comments.

Because GMU is a state university, projects on its campus are not subject to Fairfax County's land use, zoning, and approval processes. That said, my office will always work to ensure that GMU engages with the community and addresses any concerns in a substantive way.

Yours in service,

Supervisor James R. Walkinshaw

Please share this newsletter with your friends and neighbors. If this email was forwarded to you, consider subscribing to receive Braddock District news and updates.

Continue reading below for more information on:

• Drought Watch Issued
• Reduced Fee Vaccine & Microchip Clinics
• Family Caregiver Webinar in Spanish
• Community Update Meeting on Willard-Sherwood Center Redevelopment
• Car Seat Inspections this Saturday
• Green Business Partners Webinar
• Braddock District Council Meeting
• 2nd Annual Beaver Boogie 5K
• Home Heating Assistance Available

Drought Watch Issued

Several months of low rainfall with dry conditions have contributed to a Drought Watch in Fairfax County. 

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments recently issued the watch, which is expected to continue throughout the fall and winter.

There’s currently an adequate supply of water in the Potomac River and back-up reservoirs, but residents and businesses are asked to use water wisely to reduce water demand and environmental needs of the river.

This past October was the sixth driest October on record in Fairfax County over the past 130 years, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System. The regional drought watch affects nearly six million residents across metropolitan Washington.

High temperatures and low rainfall amounts have increased the chance of drought for most of the state. Other factors include low stream flows and lower groundwater. 

Go to the County's News Center post to view the Drought Map, view water-saving and fire prevention tips, and more.

Reduced Fee Vaccine

& Microchip Clinic

As part of Fairfax County Animal Shelter's (FCAS) Pet Resource Center, Fairfax County residents have an opportunity to vaccinate and microchip their pets without the cost of a veterinary exam.

All clinics are first-come first-served and cash only. Clinics are held at the Michael R. Frey (4500 West Ox Road, Fairfax) or the Lorton Campus (8875 Lorton Road, Lorton). The Animal Shelter's next clinics are

• Friday, November 15
• 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. | Lorton Campus
• Monday, December 2
• 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. | Michael R. Frey Campus

For more information on upcoming dates or details, visit the FCAS website.

Family Caregiver Webinar in Spanish

The Fairfax Area Agency on Aging’s Caregiver & Supportive Services Unit invites you to join its upcoming webinars for family caregivers of older adults and/or adults with disabilities:

Oblivion in Latino Seniors (65+)

Friday, November 15 | 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Virtual

In this virtual Spanish webinar, hosted by the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging, Dr. Maria A Rossetti, PhD, Board Certified Clinical Neuropsychologist, will provide advice on several questions about memory such as: "What is memory?" and "Is it normal to lose memory?". This presentation will also explain dementia and Alzheimer's disease, and how to talk to loved ones about memory. Join to learn how to best prepare to be a family caregiver for your loved ones living with dementia. Register today.

El Olvido en las Personas Mayores Latinas (65+) Viernes, 15 de noviembre | 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Virtual

En esta presentación virtual, coordinada por el Área Agency on Aging del Condado de Fairfax, Dra. Maria A Rossetti, PhD proveerá consejo acerca de varias preguntas sobre la memoria como son: “¿qué es la memoria?” y “¿es normal perder la memoria?”. Esta presentación también explicará lo que es la demencia, la enfermedad de Alzheimer, y cómo conversar con sus seres queridos sobre la memoria. Acompáñenos para aprender cómo prepararse mejor para ser cuidador familiar de nuestros seres queridos que viven con demencia. Regístrate aquí.

Si tiene preguntas adicionales llame al (571) 407-6961 o contacte a Ayiguli.Saifuding@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Community Update Meeting on Willard-Sherwood Center Redevelopment

Progress continues on the redevelopment of the Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center. This joint County and City project aims to transform the downtown Fairfax location into a single destination for health, wellness, fitness, and childcare.

The innovative new campus will co-locate health programs, early childhood education, senior services, and gym and fitness facilities, creating a state-of-the-art community hub designed to serve residents of all ages. Green building features will be incorporated, aimed at achieving LEED Gold certification and net-zero energy performance.

The project is now in the final design phase, with construction anticipated to start in early 2026. Join representatives of the County and City at an in-person open house on Saturday, November 16, from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. at the Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center (3740 Blenheim Boulevard, Fairfax City). A short presentation will be given at 9.30 a.m.

No registration is required for the open house, however, if you need interpretation services or other accommodations, contact Willard-SherwoodProject@fairfaxcounty.gov.

To learn more, visit Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center's website.

Upcoming Shredding Event

Carrie & Co. Real Estate Group will host a document shredding event on Saturday, November 16, from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. at 5641 Burke Centre Parkway, Burke.

Register for the event. Please bring a canned good or non-perishable item to donate to a local food pantry.

Car Seat Inspections this Saturday

Get your child’s car seat inspected on Saturday, November 16, from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the West Springfield Police District Station (6140 Rolling Road, Springfield), no appointment is needed.

Car seats will be inspected on a first-come, first-serve basis. When you arrive, go into the lobby, and you will be given further directions. All car seat inspections/installations will be conducted by a certified Child Passenger Safety technician. Be sure to install the child safety seat yourself so the inspection can be performed. The seat will be properly re-installed, if necessary, and you will learn how to install the seat properly in the future.

Reach out to MPO Tony Capizzi at (703) 277-2363 or email anthony.capizzi@fairfaxcounty.gov if you have questions. Car seat inspections are also available, by appointment, every Tuesday from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Call the station at (703) 644-7377, and press zero to make an appointment for those days.

Green Business Partners Webinar

Calling Fairfax business leaders! Join the Fairfax County Office of Environment and Energy Coordination (OEEC) on November 19 at 12:00 p.m. for Benefits of Committing to Sustainability: The Experience of Climate First Bank, a webinar hosted by the Green Business Partners.



Guest speaker Chris Cucci, Climate First Bank’s executive vice president and chief of staff, will talk about their path in standing up a sustainability-driven and climate-branded company and how some of the business benefits accrue to their customers as well. Sign up to attend.

Braddock District Council Meeting

The Braddock District Council will hold a regular business meeting on Wednesday, November 20, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. in Braddock Hall (9002 Burke Lake Road, Burke).

This meeting will be devoted to a discussion and approval of revisions to the Council’s Bylaws, last updated in 2013. Members are asked to check the links from May 2024 to see the revisions in “track changes’ format and also in a ‘smooth’ version with all changes approved.

2nd Annual Beaver Boogie 5K

Back by popular demand! The Friends of Lake Accotink Park (FLAP) will host its second-annual Beaver Boogie 5K at Lake Accotink Park at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 30.

The Beaver Boogie is a great opportunity to join with family, friends and neighbors in supporting one of Fairfax County’s largest and most visited parks. The event runs through the park, creating a scenic and picture-perfect atmosphere for all runners and walkers to enjoy themselves while being active.

Registration is $25 for each participant for the 5K Fun Run/Walk. All proceeds from this event are used to support FLAP projects and programs that directly benefit Lake Accotink Park. Register today.

Visit the Friends of Lake Accotink Park’s event website or email contact@flapaccotink.org with questions.

Home Heating Assistance Available

The cold weather is coming, and you may be eligible to receive help with home heating bills through two energy assistance programs that are accepting applications now.

The Fuel Assistance Program helps eligible households in meeting their energy needs by supplementing the cost associated with their primary heat source. The Crisis Assistance Program is designed to help households overcome energy emergencies that cannot be met by other resources.

If you or someone you know needs help with home heating costs during the coldest months of the year, apply to the Fuel Assistance and Crisis Assistance programs online or by calling 833-5-CALL-VA (833-522-5582).  

Learn More about Energy Assistance Programs.