Dear Neighbor,

Yesterday, I took the oath of office for my second term as your Braddock District Supervisor at the Fairfax County Inauguration Ceremony. Serving you is an incredible honor and I look forward to the progress we will make together over the next four years.

I'm excited to serve with two new colleagues on the Board of Supervisors: Andres Jimenez in the Mason District and Jimmy Bierman in the Dranesville District. They each bring unique and valuable perspectives and experience and are ready to hit the ground running in January. They succeed Supervisors Penny Gross and John Foust, who are leaving the Board after a combined 44 years of dedicated and effective service.

Lake Accotink Findings Report

On Tuesday, December 12, the Task Force on the Future of Lake Accotink presented its Findings Report at the Board’s Environmental Committee meeting. The Task Force was chaired by former Board Chairman Sharon Bulova and included more than 30 members representing the community and environmental and nonprofit organizations. They spent six months reviewing the basis of County staff’s recommendation to not dredge the lake and instead create a managed wetland. The Task Force also worked with a consultant to explore other possibilities, ensuring that all options were considered. You can read the full report, view the presentation and related documents on the meeting page, or watch the meeting video.

The Task Force's work in bringing forward the community’s findings is extremely valuable to my colleagues and me. They stressed the value of the lake to the community and presented important findings that will improve our decision-making process moving forward. While their mission was not to make a final recommendation, they did find that a smaller lake option combined with a managed wetland, grassland, and/or braided stream network could be feasible. They noted that the existing dam is 80 years old and future options must take into account dam replacement, repair, or removal.

I plan to bring forward a Board Matter early next year to lay out the next steps, which will include additional community involvement as we set in motion the process for the future of Lake Accotink and the Master Plan for Lake Accotink Park.

Donation Boxes

If you're in the spirit of giving and you'd like to donate canned goods, coats, or other requested donation items to ECHO or the Annandale Mission Center, my office offers donation boxes for these organizations year-round.

You can drop off your items Monday - Friday between 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the Braddock District Office (9002 Burke Lake Road, Burke). There is also a collection box for old prescription glasses donations for the Burke Lions Club.

Yours in service,

Supervisor James R. Walkinshaw

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

Continue reading below for more information on:

• Pets and Holiday Safety
• Kings Park West Cleanup on December 16
• Apply for THRIVE's First Cohort Until December 21
• 13th Annual Adopt-A-Soldier Care Packing
• Haven of Northern Virginia Loss Support Groups
• George Mason's Center for Community Mental Health
• Clean Fairfax Encourages Green Holiday Traditions
• First Hike Photo Contest
• Lifetime Learning Institute Winter/Spring 2024 Classes

Pets and Holiday Safety

The holidays can be a fun but also dangerous time for our furry companions. As pet owners, we must take steps to keep our pets safe during the festive season.

Read the County's Emergency Information Blog to learn about how to avoid hazardous decorations, food, and drinks.

Kings Park West Cleanup on December 16

The Kings Park West "Road Raiders" are hosting a cleanup to improve sidewalk safety in Kings Park West this Saturday, December 16, from 8:00 - 8:30 a.m.

They will be clearing the sidewalks of pine needles to make it safer for walkers and joggers. The area is heavily used and in the wet weather, pine needles can become very slippery.

The group will meet at the Crooked Creek Park sign on Commonwealth (nearest cross street - Dequincey).

Please bring rakes, brooms, leaf blowers, and snow shovels. If you’d like to join, email KPWRoadRaiders@gmail.com.

Apply for THRIVE's First Cohort Until December 21

Fairfax County introduces THRIVE – a technical assistance program dedicated to small business growth. Through this program, approximately 600 businesses will receive consulting services valued up to $10,000 to help them reach their business goals and continue their post-pandemic recovery.

By offering coaching and consulting services, THRIVE aims to mitigate the negative COVID-19 economic impacts on local small businesses. Fairfax County's Board of Supervisors authorized $7,000,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to establish the THRIVE program. The Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) will serve as the program grant administrator.

THRIVE will accept applications for businesses from December 12-21, 2023, and January 16-26, 2024. Learn more about eligibility and applying.

13th Annual Adopt-A-Soldier

Care Packing

Join the American Legion Post 176 and Adopt-A-Soldier to say "Thank you for your service" by packing care packages and letters for service members deployed overseas and veterans in veteran homes and hospitals.

The American Legion Post 176 will pack care packages on Monday, December 25, from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. at the American Legion Post 176 (6520 Amherst Avenue, Springfield). Lunch will be served for volunteers and all supplies will be provided; donated items will not be turned away!

There is no age limit to volunteer and no set time slots. Visit the event page for more information.

Haven of Northern Virginia Loss Support Groups

Since 1976, Haven of Northern Virginia, a non-profit, non-sectarian community 

organization of trained volunteers, has offered emotional support to the bereaved, the 

seriously ill, the dying, and their families and friends.

Suicide Loss Support Groups

Haven offers virtual and in-person Suicide Loss Support Groups on the first, second, and third Saturdays of each month. These groups are open to those who have had a loved one die by suicide and offer participants information and suggestions for handling the complexities of grief that follow a suicide.

• The virtual Suicide Loss Group meets on the first and third Saturday of each month from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Register for this group by calling (703) 941- 7000.
• The in-person group is held on the second Saturday of each month at Haven of Northern Virginia (4606 Ravensworth Road, Annandale). No registration is required.
• For more information on any of the programs Haven offers, or about the organization, visit Haven of Northern Virginia's website.

Four-Week Widow/Widower/Partner Support Group

Haven is forming a four-week Widow/Widower/Partner Support Group for early Spring 2024. Call (703) 941- 7000 or email havenofnova@verizon.net if you are interested in participating.

George Mason's Center for Community Mental Health

George Mason University’s new Center for Community Mental Health (9900 Main Street, Fairfax) provides evidence-based, accessible, affordable, and culturally sensitive therapy and testing services to those in need, regardless of income. The Center sees children as young as age 5, and works with community members of various ages, including addressing the mental health needs of veterans.

The center’s Emotional Help Line provides free, anonymous, confidential support in both English (703-215-1898) and Spanish (703-914-3878). The line is open daily from 8:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. Learn more on the Center's website.

Clean Fairfax Encourages Green Holiday Traditions

Did you know that the average American household creates 25% more waste during the holiday season? This is the perfect time of year to add a couple of easy, green traditions to your festivities!

1. Choose reusable or recyclable wrapping for your gifts, such as a basket, decorative fabric wrap, previously used gift bag, or paper decorated with drawings and natural items (think pinecones, sprigs of greenery, or dried flowers).
2. As you decorate your tree or your home, do not throw away broken holiday lights. Take them to your nearest MOM’s Organic Market for recycling! Locate your nearest MOM’s.
3. Bring your own food storage containers to take home leftovers. Hint: annual cookie swaps can keep swapping the same tins back and forth each year!
4. Consider purchasing a real tree for the holidays through local Christmas tree growers. Check out the Virginia Christmas Tree Growers Association site for a tree farm near you.
5. Looking for a zero-waste gift idea? Donate to a local green organization.

Check out Clean Fairfax or email cfc@cleanfairfax.org.

First Hike Photo Contest

On New Year's Day, head out to Fairfax County Parks with your camera to photograph scenery, people or your pets! Then enter your photo in the Park Authority’s First Hike Fairfax 2024 Photo Contest by noon on January 2 for a chance to win $75 to $100 gift cards from the Fairfax County Park Authority Foundation.



The contest is open to amateur and professional photographers. Only one photo entry per person will be accepted (multiple family members may submit photos individually). Photo submissions must be in JPG format, indicate the date they were taken, and be submitted in one of the following four categories:

• Scenery/Landscapes
• People
• Wildlife
• Pets

Complete contest rules, photo submission instructions, and other resources are available on the First Hike Fairfax Photo Contest website.

LLI Winter/Spring 2024 Classes

The Lifetime Learning Institute of Northern Virginia (LLI), affiliated with the Annandale campus of Northern Virginia Community College, is a non-profit, member-run organization offering stimulating educational and cultural pursuits to adults ages 50 and over.

LLI will post its class catalog for the Winter/Spring 2024 semester which runs from January through May in the next few weeks.

More information on the Lifetime Learning Institute and how to enroll in Winter/Spring 2024 classes is available on LLI's website. If you have questions, call Gina Trapp of LLI’s Community Outreach Committee at (571) 345-5897.