The Walkinshaw Advisory: Board Receives Lake Accotink Update, Historic Police Academy Class, & Braddock Bark Volunteers Needed

Dear Neighbor,

This week, at my request, the Board of Supervisors Environmental Committee received a briefing and update on Lake Accotink. County staff shared the history of the project, the results of the community survey, and the staff recommendation to not move forward with the planned dredge. You can watch the video of the meeting here.

The meeting provided an opportunity for me to share how many residents in our community feel – that Lake Accotink is a treasure, beloved by generations of residents, in Fairfax County and beyond. The fact that Fairfax County made a commitment to dredge the lake in 2019, and now there is a staff recommendation recommending the opposite has created anger and distrust. While the 1000+ responses to the community survey reveal that views are mixed as to whether the benefits of dredging outweigh the costs, clearly there are still many people who feel passionately about the Lake and are not yet convinced that every possible option has been explored.

That's why, along with Chairman McKay and Supervisor Lusk, I announced that we will ask the Board of Supervisors to form a Task Force on the Future of Lake Accotink to review the existing studies, analyses, and recommendations, participate in a detailed study of the managed wetland option, and explore the possibility of a hybrid approach that maintains an open water feature.

The task force will deliver its findings to the Board of Supervisors to inform our decision. To date, the process has been that staff and consultants conduct studies, then present their recommendations to the community for comment. This task force will enable community members to be at the table to ensure that options are thoroughly explored, and questions from the public are answered.

While other Board members expressed deep concern with the $395 million cost to dredge and maintain the Lake over 25 years, there was unanimous agreement to withhold making any decisions until the task force can complete its work.

Historic Police Academy Class

Recruitment and retention of highly qualified county employees, including Police Officers, has been a top priority of the Board of Supervisors. Like every major law enforcement agency in our region and nation, we have experienced challenges in recruitment and retention.

But thanks to strong pay and benefits packages, Board-approved recruitment bonuses, new recruiting techniques and initiatives, and the great work of our officers in spreading the word about the Fairfax County Police Department, I'm pleased to share that FCPD just welcomed the largest Police Academy Class in nearly a decade.

We are also making progress in building a Police Department that reflects the diversity of our community. Session 84 is FCPD’s first majority-minority class.

In 2021, FCPD took a 30 x 30 pledge, meaning women would make up at least 30% of recruiting classes by the year 2030 – the recruits of Session 84 are 25% women. This class also benefits from more varied educational backgrounds and experiences, including former mental health care specialists, youth leadership, and more. You can learn more about the historic class here.

Braddock Bark Volunteers Needed

The Braddock Bark festival is quickly approaching, and we need all hands (and paws) on deck! Volunteers shifts available are:

10:00 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. (set up and event assistance)
1:30 - 5:00 p.m. (event assistance and clean up)

Each shift will be tasked with different responsibilities during the event in addition to set up/break down. If you are interested in volunteering, register here. More information will be sent out a week before the event. Email any questions about volunteering or the event to [email protected].

Braddock Bark will take place on Sunday, May 21, from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. at Lake Accotink Park. I can’t wait to see you and your canine companions there!

Yours in service,

Supervisor James R. Walkinshaw

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Continue reading below for more information on:

Crossing at Lake Accotink Dam Open
Mason Day Noise Alert
Marian Homes Shredding Event
AARP's 6th Annual Scam Jam
Taste of Annandale
Commonwealth Transportation Board's Public Meetings
Friends of Kings Park Library Book Sale
Early Voting begins May 5
Juneteenth Resiliency Award Nominations
Shred and Share Event
Free Career Fair and Resource Expo for Transitioning Service Members, Veterans and Military Spouses
Free Hyundai and Kia Steering Wheel Locks
VDOT Paving and Restriping Meeting
Apply to be a Fairfax County Election Officer for June 20 Primaries
Grass Height Complaints
Updated Pfizer Vaccines for Children and Toddlers available
I-66 Transfer Station and I-95 Landfill Complex Drop-off Hours Changes

Crossing at Lake Accotink Dam Open

With the completion of flashboard installation at the top of Lake Accotink Dam, the Park Authority safely opened the stream crossing ahead of schedule.

The ADA accessible crossing now completes the full loop of the Lake Accotink trail and is open to cyclists and pedestrians.

This new bridge will make it easier for everyone to cross the stream and enjoy the trails around Lake Accotink, rain or shine!

Mason Day Noise Alert

Tomorrow, April 28, from 3:00 - 10:00 p.m. is George Mason University's Annual Mason Day.

Mason Day is an event that welcomes warmer weather and provides relaxation for students before Finals week. The event takes place outside in Lot L between Eagle Bank Arena and Braddock Road and includes food, activities, music, and an evening headliner concert.

External community members can only participate if they are a guest of a Mason student, faculty, or staff member with a valid Mason ID. For guest ticketing information and pricing, please visit the Mason Day website.

Marian Homes Shredding Event

Area non-profit Marian Homes will be hosting a shredding event at the St. Mary of Sorrows Parish (5222 Sideburn Road, Fairfax) on Saturday, April 29 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Information about the shred can be found here. Donations to Marian Homes will be accepted.

AARP's 6th Annual Scam Jam

AARP Virginia and the Fairfax County Silver Shield Task Force bring you the 6th Annual Scam Jam featuring former San Diego Deputy District Attorney Paul Greenwood and Kate Kleinert, Fraud Survivor. The event is on Saturday, April 29 from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at the OLLI Mason campus (4210 Roberts Road, Fairfax), or you can join via Zoom.

You’ll learn the red flags to proactively spot scams and protect yourself and your family, as well as how to report fraud. You’ll meet Kate Kleinert and hear her incredible story of a romance scam that ended with a broken heart and the loss of $39,000 and what she’s doing about it.

Additional remarks will be provided by Fairfax County Police, Fairfax Adult Protective Services (APS), FBI, the US Postal Inspector, and Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw.

In-person space is limited, and refreshments will be provided. You can register to attend in-person, attend virtually, or read more on AARP's site.

Taste of Annandale

The community is invited to the Taste of Annandale, a free, family-friendly festival this Saturday, April 29, from 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m., along Tom Davis Drive in downtown Annandale.

Taste of Annandale features live performances, food trucks and restaurants, a 5K race, best-dressed pet contest, a full schedule of children’s entertainment and activities, vendors, a chili cookoff, a beer garden, and the police helicopter. For more information about Taste of Annandale, check out their website.

Commonwealth Transportation Board's Public Meetings

The Commonwealth Transportation Board will host nine meetings across Virginia and is inviting the public to share feedback on transportation projects that have been recommended for funding, as well as other transportation initiatives. Members of the community may participate by attending public meetings or submitting comments online, by email, or by mail.

The public will have an opportunity to learn and share feedback. The Northern Virginia District meeting is this Monday, May 1, at 5:00 p.m. at the Potomac Conference Center at the NOVA District Office (4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax).

The public will have an opportunity to learn and share feedback about:

The Draft Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-2029 Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP), which allocates public funds to highway, road, bridge, rail, bicycle, pedestrian, public transportation, and transportation demand management projects. The Draft FY 2024-2029 SYIP identifies projects proposed for inclusion in the final program, which will be before the CTB at its June meeting. All federally eligible projects in the SYIP will be included in the federally required Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) to document how Virginia will obligate its federal funds. The Draft FY 2024-2029 SYIP includes projects recommended for funding in the following programs:

SMART SCALE, the Board’s statewide multimodal transportation prioritization process that provides funding for highway, transit capital, rail capital, transportation demand management, and bike/ped projects.
State of Good Repair, a program that provides funding for deteriorated pavements and structurally deficient bridges owned or maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and or localities.

Comments will also be accepted for new projects valued at more than $25 million.

Check out more details about the mentioned plans or learn more about the meetings on VDOT's site or on Northern Virginia Transportation Authority's site.

Friends of Kings Park Library Book Sale

Friends of the Kings Park Library's Annual Book Sale is May 4 - May 6 at Kings Park Library (9000 Burke Lake Road, Burke).

Proceeds directly support the Kings Park Library. Books are sorted into many categories and it's easy to find something for everyone! During peak attendance you may be asked to park strollers outside of the main book sale area for safety and convenience of all shoppers.

View more info here.

Early Voting Begins May 5

Early in-person voting for the June 20 Democratic Primary Elections begins on Friday, May 5 and continues until Saturday, June 17.

May 5 - June 9, voting is available at three locations:

Fairfax County Government Center | Conference Rooms 2/3 - 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax
Weekday hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Mt. Vernon Governmental Center - 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria
Weekday hours: 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
North County Governmental Center - 1801 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston
Weekday hours: 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

*The Republican Party has not called for a primary in Fairfax County*

Beginning Saturday, June 10, an additional 13 early voting locations will open across the County, including at Burke Centre Library (5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke).

You can find all the locations, their operating hours, and information on Saturday voting on the County's Office of Elections' website.

Find a list of qualified candidates here.
You can verify the new districts here.

Juneteenth Resiliency Award Nominations

Fairfax County's 2023 Juneteeth Resilience Award nomination period is open until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 5.

The Resiliency Award recognizes both youth and young adults who have exhibited true resiliency (also known as grit, determination, dedication, perseverance and persistence) to make meaningful contributions and outcomes in their lives and/or the lives of others in the Black community.

For more information about the review process, nomination form, and a look at past winners, check out the County's website.

Shred and Share Event

ECHO (Ecumenical Community Helping Others) helps people in need who live in Burke, Springfield, and part of Alexandria.

There will be a Shred and Share Event to benefit ECHO on Saturday, May 6, from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at 6045 Burke Centre Parkway (Giant Shopping Center parking lot).

The shredding is free, but the organizers encourage participants to bring non-perishable food items or personal hygiene items to donate to ECHO. You can find out more about this event on ECHO's website.

Free Career Fair and Resource Expo for Transitioning Service Members, Veterans and Military Spouses

Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) is hosting a free, two-day career fair on May 10-11, in partnership with the Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s Hire Vets Now Foundation in partnership with Fort Belvoir, Virginia Department of Veteran Services, and Virginia Employment Commission, for Transitioning Service Members, Veterans and Military Spouses.

In-person Career Fair and Resource Expo – Wednesday, May 10, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. EST, National Museum of the United States Army (1775 Liberty Drive, Fort Belvoir). For transit and parking information, visit this link. Free headshots, resume guidance and access to upskilling resources will be available to set you up for success!
Virtual Career Fair and Resource Expo – Thursday, May 11, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. To register, visit this link.

To view the full list of companies participating and register, visit here.

Free Hyundai and Kia

Steering Wheel Locks

In response to increasing thefts targeting Hyundai and Kia vehicles, the West Springfield District Station has partnered with the manufacturers to distribute free steering wheel locks to local residents who own, or lease affected vehicles.

If you bring in your Hyundai or Kia's current registration to the front desk of the West Springfield District Station (6140 Rolling Road, Springfield) at any time, you will be provided with a free steering wheel lock. Wheel locks are offered on a first come, first served basis while supplies last.

Security upgrades are available through Hyundai and Kia dealerships. Owners of these vehicles are strongly encouraged to contact their dealership to learn more.

If you have any questions, please call MPO Tony Capizzi at (703) 277-2363 or send an email.

VDOT Paving and Restriping Meeting

On April 20, VDOT held a virtual Paving and Restriping meeting.

In the Braddock District, FCDOT and VDOT are proposing to:

Add buffered or standard bike lanes on Guinea Road between Braddock Road and Twinbrook Road where space allows by narrowing travel lanes or converting underutilized travel lanes where feasible; and
Upgrade the crosswalk at Southampton Drive and Thames Street, which may include marked crosswalks, high-visibility crosswalks and/or crosswalk signage.

The deadline to provide comments is 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 4.

Apply to be a Fairfax County Election Officer for June 20 Primaries

The Fairfax County Office of Elections is seeking officers who live in Fairfax County and can serve for a full-day (5:00 a.m. to approximately 9:00 p.m., when all work is complete after polls close), on Tuesday, June 20 for the primary elections. Offered compensation for serving is $250.00 and reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities per the American with Disabilities Act.

The deadline to apply to be considered for the June primaries is May 23. Any applications received after that date will be considered for future elections.

Apply to be an officer here or contact the Office of Elections at [email protected].

Grass Height Complaints

The Department of Code Compliance (DCC) has begun receiving and investigating grass complaints. DCC accepts excessive grass height complaints by telephone or on their website here.

Chapter 119 Grass or Lawn Area of the Fairfax County Code regulates grass height, which may not be taller than 12-inches on any vacant or occupied residential property less than ½-acre (21,780 square feet) in area. For commercial properties, the property needs to be a vacant developed property with no limitation on lot size. DCC will stop taking grass complaints on October 13.

You can read more about enforcement and requirements here.

Updated Pfizer Vaccines for Children and Toddlers available

The updated (bivalent) Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is now available as a booster dose for children 6 months – 4 years old who completed their primary series of three doses with the original (monovalent) Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

Here are two important things for parents to know about this new authorization:

Children 6 months – 4 years old can receive a single booster dose of the updated vaccine at least 2 months after completing the primary series (three doses) of the original vaccine.
Children 6 months – 4 years old who received the updated vaccine as the third dose of their primary series are NOT eligible for a booster dose. Children who received the original Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine as their first two doses of their primary series began receiving the updated vaccine as the third dose in their primary series in December 2022.

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to contact their health care provider about getting vaccinated or search vaccines.gov to find a location near you. Most pharmacy locations only vaccinate children aged 3 years or older. If you are unable to find a COVID-19 vaccine, call the Fairfax County Call Center at 703-267-3511 to make an appointment at a Health Department district office clinic.

In the Fairfax Health District, only 13% of children under 5 years old have completed their primary vac cine series, and about 2% of children in that age group have received an updated booster dose. Everyone 6 months and older is encouraged to stay up to date and get the most recent booster dose recommended for them to prevent the worst outcomes from COVID-19, even if they have already had COVID-19. Read more here.

I-66 Transfer Station and I-95 Landfill Complex Drop-off Hours Changes

On May 1, the hours are changing at the I-66 Transfer Station and the I-95 Landfill Complex for dropping off household hazardous waste (HHW) and electronics waste (e-waste).

The new I-66 HHW drop-off hours will be: