Dear Neighbor,

At this week’s meeting, the Board of Supervisors approved my motion to advance the smaller lake option at Lake Accotink, which was a key finding developed by the Task Force on the Future of Lake Accotink and shared in their findings report. I believe that the smaller lake option meets the community's desire to sustainably preserve the lake. You can read more about the Board’s decision in the Washington Post.

A feasibility study with robust community engagement will determine the best methods, costs, onsite sediment reuse potential, permitting challenges, maintenance dredging intervals, and other needs to preserve a 20-40 acre Lake Accotink at a depth of 4-8 feet. We will also conduct a sedimentation rate study, assess the condition of the dam, establish a staff position to coordinate all of the activities related to Lake Accotink, and maintain the $60,500,000 commitment to Lake Accotink in our Capital Improvement Program. The studies, assessment, and analysis will proceed immediately and concurrently, and the Board will receive from staff a timetable for their completion.

I will continue to share major developments in the next steps of the process with you, including future opportunities for community engagement. 

While there is much work yet to be done, and unforeseen barriers could arise, this is a watershed moment. I deeply appreciate the community members who contributed to this process, especially members of the Task Force, including former Chairman Sharon Bulova and former Supervisor John Cook.

Veterans and Military Families Commission

Also at this week’s Board meeting, the Board unanimously supported Chairman McKay and me in our initiative to establish a Veterans and Military Families Commission.

Fairfax County is home to more than 45,00 active-duty military, selected reserve members, and an estimated 65,000 veterans. More than 14,500 FCPS students are connected to the military, and 69 Fairfax County Schools are recognized Purple Star Schools.

As a premier destination for military families to relocate to because of the resources our County has to offer, our community will benefit from the establishment of a commission that focuses on the needs and interests of veterans and military families.

Details on the commission's purpose, bylaws, structure, and parameters for membership will be presented to the Board by mid-March and my office will share those details with residents.

GMU Virtual Town Hall on Proposed Temporary Stadium

George Mason University will host a virtual town hall this Monday, January 29, from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. to present a West Campus update for community feedback, comments, and questions.

According to GMU, the update will include members of the Washington Freedom Major League Cricket team and details on “a proposed temporary stadium that would bring cricket, the second-most watched sport in the world, to the region, strengthen the local economy, and improve the university’s baseball program facilities.”

Pre-registration is not required to attend the virtual discussion. Questions and comments will be shared through the Chat feature. Join at gmu.zoom.us/j/98656812165

The meeting can accommodate up to 1,000 attendees and will be recorded and posted to construction.gmu.edu afterward.

Yours in service,

Supervisor James R. Walkinshaw

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Continue reading below for more information on:

• Dog Licenses Due January 31
• Neighborhood College
• Crisis Assistance Program
• Braddock Road DMV Now Open
• LLI's February Forum
• Sexual Violence Tier One Training
• Creatives Wanted!
• Tech and Cyber Networking and Hiring Fair
• GMU Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program

Dog Licenses Due January 31

All dogs four months or older must be licensed in Fairfax County. Apply for or renew dog licenses by January 31. The best way is through the PetData website.

Licenses are $10. Learn more about the basics of licensing or other ways to apply on the County website.

Neighborhood College

In partnership with Fairfax County's Neighborhood and Community Services, Supervisor Walkinshaw is excited to host the return of Braddock District's Neighborhood College starting in February.

This free certificate program is a great opportunity for community members who live or work in the Braddock District to learn more about Fairfax County government and practical ways you can get involved in your community.

View the flyer in English or in Spanish. The deadline to sign up is next Friday, February 2.

The program kicks off with an in-person orientation session and meet-and-greet on February 8.

Classes will take place on six consecutive Thursday evenings from February 15 through March 21 - the first four will be held virtually and the final two in-person.

Crisis Assistance Program

Do you know someone facing a “no heat” situation? The Crisis Assistance Program helps households overcome energy emergencies that cannot be met by other resources. An energy emergency is determined when a household has no heat or is in imminent danger of being without heat. The open application period for the Crisis Assistance Program closes on March 15.

Learn more and apply for the Crisis Assistance Program at Common Help's website or by calling 855-635-4370. 

Braddock Road DMV Now Open

As of January 22, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles' Braddock Road Customer Service Center (9855 Braddock Road, Fairfax), located adjacent to Erickson Senior Living’s Woodleigh Chase facility, is now open.

The Braddock Road Customer Service Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to noon. Both service and testing options are available at the Braddock Road Customer Service Center. Customers may make an appointment, reserve a spot for same-day service, or stop by during operating hours. On-road skills testing and closed-course testing will be available.

This additional information may be helpful: 

• DMV offers more than 50 transactions online, including decal and license renewal as well as address changes. Customers are encouraged to take advantage of those convenient services to avoid a trip to a DMV.  
• Some services that require in-person visits can be started through an online pre-application. This gives customers the opportunity to begin certain applications from home or on the go. The completed application is electronically submitted; DMV finalizes the pre-filled application during the customer’s visit, reducing time spent at the office. 
• Customers can choose to upgrade their credential to a REAL ID and begin the service before arriving.

LLI's February Forum

The Lifetime Learning Institute of Northern Virginia (LLI), a nonprofit organization offering educational and cultural pursuits to those ages 50 and over, is pleased to welcome Dr. Michael Mehta Webster, a professor in the Department of Environmental Studies at New York University and former Executive Director of the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL), as their speaker at LLI's February 7 Forum at 10:00 a.m.

The topic will be "The Rescue Effect: Nature’s innate ability to help organisms persist in hard times."

The Forum is free to the public, but non-members need to register before February 5 to access the Zoom link. Register today.

More information on the Forum is on LLI's website or call (571)345-5897. 

Sexual Violence Tier One Training

Fairfax County is hosting the first Sexual Violence Tier One training of 2024.

Featuring over a dozen organizations providing sexual violence services in the County, this training will discuss sexual violence across the lifespan, systems responding to sexual violence in Fairfax County, and resources available in our community. Participants will learn how and why sexual violence happens; the short- and long-term impacts of sexual violence on individuals, families, and communities; and how to support people impacted by sexual violence. This training is a collaboration between Domestic and Sexual Violence Services, Fairfax County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) and the CCR Prevention and Training Committee.

This training is free, but registration is required. Participants must attend all sessions and should select both sessions titled "Sexual Violence Tier One" when registering. 

• Session 1: Saturday, February 24 | 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (In-person) Fairfax County Health Department | Rowland Training Rooms A&B 10777 Main Street (Kelly Square) Fairfax, VA 22030
• Sessions 2-5: Wednesdays/Thursdays (February 28 - March 7) | 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. (Virtual)

Please view Frequently Asked Questions or contact Abby Picard at abigail.picard@fairfaxcounty.gov

Creatives Wanted!

One Water Art Contest

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) is joining with the Community Engagement Campaign’s regional water utilities to hold its third annual Source Water Protection Art Contest. 

Local student artists, grades 9 – 12, can submit their art or short video that captures the importance of protecting our local water sources for a chance to win a prize.

Create art that portrays positive messages focused on our local sources of water. Stormwater (water that flows off the land), and wastewater effluent (processed and cleaned water from what gets flushed down toilets and poured down drains) enters local streams which flow into the Potomac River (a.k.a. our region's source water). Source water gets purified and treated to be used as drinking water by downstream communities.

Regional water utilities would like to feature artwork in their outreach materials and messaging campaigns. These may include social media, posters, brochures, notecards, and annual reports. 

The application deadline is February 12, view details or submit here. 

Paint It, Fairfax!

The County is looking for artists who can contribute their creative flair to the community and you are invited to join the debut mural program, "Paint It, Fairfax!"

This initiative is geared towards building a pool of talented artists eager to participate in transforming Commercial Revitalization Districts and Areas (CRDs/CRAs), such as Annandale, Lake Anne, and Springfield, through community-focused public art.

Tech and Cyber Networking

and Hiring Fair

Here at the doorsteps of our Nation’s Capital, thousands of employers are hiring. Currently, there are more than 100,000 jobs open in Northern Virginia and nearly 30 percent of those jobs are in tech. On January 30-31, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) is hosting a free, two-day tech and cyber networking and hiring event, to connect job seekers and employers to help fill thousands of high-priority positions.

During the two-day event, candidates will have the opportunity to network with dozens of hiring organizations from Fortune 500s to government agencies and rising start-ups. Top national employers including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Microsoft, Capital One, and Inova Health System are actively hiring for positions across a variety of sectors including IT, aerospace, cybersecurity, and healthcare. View a full list of companies participating and to register today.

• In-person networking and hiring – Tuesday, January 30 | 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., at Capital One Hall (750 Capital One Tower Road, Tysons)
• Virtual networking and hiring – Wednesday, January 31 | 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., via online meeting portal Brazen.

All backgrounds and experience levels are welcome, and attendees do not need to live in Northern Virginia to meet with participating companies. As a bonus, you will get to have a professional headshot taken at the event for free!

GMU Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program

Budding scientists can apply now for George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP). The highly competitive program is an eight-week immersive internship offering hands-on lab experience, STEM career exploration, and opportunities to strengthen scientific writing and creative thinking. ASSIP is open to high school and undergraduate students.

Applications are due by Sunday, February 11 at 11:59 p.m. Learn more on GMU Science's website.