May 8, 2020
Dear Neighbor,
This morning I spent some time visiting the volunteers at
Ecumenical Community Helping Others (ECHO)
. They are leading the charge in combating the food insecurity many of our neighbors are facing due to COVID-19.
They've received an outpouring of support and donations from the community. But food is flying off their shelves faster than it's coming in. So I need your help.
For nine years, the Stuff the Bus food drive has helped fill the shelves of local nonprofits’ food pantries. But this year we're doing things a little bit different. Instead of being parked in front of grocery stores, they'll be in front of Board of Supervisors' offices and other government facilities to allow donors to comply with social distancing.
On Saturday, May 16 and Tuesday, May 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Fastran buses will be parked in 21 locations throughout Fairfax County to collect food donations. In Braddock, we will be at the following locations.
I'll be visiting all three locations and hope to see you there. We need thousands of pounds of food to keep our neighbors from going hungry.
Click
here
to see the complete list of locations to drop off your food donations, what to put on your shopping list to donate, and tips for donating safely at Stuff the Bus.
If you are unable to donate in person but want to contribute, click
here
to visit Volunteer Fairfax’s Donation Page to connect with and donate to nonprofits serving our community.
Continue reading for more information on:
- Additional Community Food Drives
- Pandemic EBT Funds
- FY 2021 Budget Mark Up
- Updates from Governor Ralph Northam
- Upcoming Primary Elections
- Fairfax County Park Authority Reopenings
- Metrorail Closures
- Upcoming Braddock Land Use Committee Virtual Meeting
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Supervisor James Walkinshaw
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A non-perishable food drop off w/social distancing
Food drop off locations at:
- St. Mary of Sorrows located at 222 Sideburn Road, Fairfax, VA 22032 on May 15, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
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For families with school-age children who are facing food insecurity, there will be new funds available through a Pandemic EBT (PEBT) benefits program
(
click here to learn more
)
. These benefits will be available to families of students currently enrolled in the Free and Reduced Price Meals (FRM) program, or who attend schools where free meals are provided to all students. If your family is participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), then these PEBT funds will be added to the SNAP card; if not, then a PEBT card will be issued in a few weeks.
If your student was not participating in the FRM program but you are now experiencing need, there are two ways to receive food benefits. First, you can
sign up for the SNAP program
.
Secondly, to be added to the PEBT program, you may
apply now for the FRM program
.
Then, Fairfax County Schools will be submitting a new list for adding to the PEBT program.
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The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
approved the FY 2021 Budget Markup Tuesday, May 5 in a 9-1 vote.
The budget maintains the current Real Estate Tax rate of $1.15 per $100 of assessed value and
no longer includes a proposed 4% Admissions Tax on items such as movie, theater, and concert tickets. New investments and spending are limited to areas related to the coronavirus response.
The Board of Supervisors will adopt the
FY 2021 Budget on
Tuesday, May 12. You can learn more about the budget
here
.
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Updates from Governor Ralph Northam
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From the Office of Governor Ralph Northam
On Monday, May 4 Governor Ralph Northam outlined a three-phase plan to ease restrictions on businesses and gatherings, when health data supports doing so.
Governor Northam said he will extend key provisions of Executive Order 53, which places restrictions on businesses and gatherings of more than 10 people, at least through next Thursday, May 14, at midnight. The Northam administration will continue to monitor health data to ensure that trends of positive cases are going downward, that hospital capacity remains steady, that testing is increased, and that hospitals and medical facilities have necessary supplies of PPE. For more information on key metrics,
please see here
.
Phase I of easing restrictions would continue social distancing, teleworking, recommendations that people wear face coverings in public, and the ban on social gatherings of more than 10 people. It would ease some limits on business and faith communities, and would transition the stay at home directive to a “safer at home” guideline, especially for those in vulnerable populations.
It is expected that Phase I would last two to four weeks, as would the two subsequent phases, depending on health metrics.
More specific guidance on each phase will be available in the coming days. Slides from the Governor's briefing are available
here
.
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JUNE 23, 2020 PRIMARY ELECTIONS
On Election Day Polls Are Open From 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
GENERAL INFORMATION
CANDIDATES
Republican Primary Election
- Member, United States Senate
- Daniel M. Gade
- Thomas A. Specialle II
- Alissa A. Baldwin
Democratic Primary Election
-
Member, United States House of Representatives, 11th Congressional District
- Gerald E. "Gerry" Connolly
- Zainab M. Mohsini
NOTE: Due to COVID-19, all voters are eligible and strongly encouragedto vote absentee. Click
here
to request a ballot.
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Fairfax County Needs Election Officers for June 23 Primary Election
Fairfax County needs at least 200 election officers for the June 23 primary election for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
The
deadline to apply is Friday, May 15
, and election officers must be registered to vote in Virginia.
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Fairfax County Park Authority
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Fairfax County Park Authority golf courses and driving ranges to reopen.
As part of a phased reopening of outdoor park amenities that so far includes trail, the following sites will reopen:
- May 8: Burke Lake Golf Center, Greendale Golf Course, Laurel Hill Golf Club
- May 15: Pinecrest Golf Course and Twin Lakes Golf Course (Oaks)
- May 22: Jefferson Golf Course, Oak Marr Golf Complex and Twin Lakes Golf Course (Lakes)
To ensure the safety of our staff and customers, courses will implement measures aligning with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) social distancing and sanitation guidelines and the National Golf Course Owners Association’s Park and Play program. Click
here
to learn more.
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Reston, Mount Vernon and Burke Farmers Markets to reopen.
Reston Farmers Market at Lake Anne Shopping Center will reopen Saturdays, beginning May 9 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Mount Vernon/McCutcheon Farmers Market will reopen Wednesdays, beginning May 13 from 8 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Burke Farmers Market at the Burke VRE station will reopen Saturdays, beginning May 16 from
8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Click
here
to learn more.
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Metrorail Orange and Silver Lines Stations in Fairfax County to Close
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These adjustments to WMATA’s current construction efforts on the Silver Line and the up-coming platform reconstruction efforts on the Orange Line address the health and safety of WMATA’s workers operating the rail system and the contractors working on these two major capital projects. It also considers the low ridership on Metrorail related to the impacts of COVID-19 and the current Stay-at-Home Orders in place across the National Capital Region. Click
here
to learn more.
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Environmental Excellence Awards
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Environmental Excellence Awards Call for Nominations Is Now Open
Each year, the Fairfax County Environmental Excellence Awards recognize individuals, organizations, businesses and county employees who:
- Advance or support the county’s environmental goals and policy statements
- Dedicate personal time and expertise beyond normal fiscal or civic responsibilities
- Demonstrate leadership as a role model for others
The 2020 call for nominations is now open. Nominations will be accepted until June 1, 2020. If you know of an individual or organization deserving of recognition for their accomplishments between June 1, 2019 and May 31, 2020, please consider nominating them. Awardees will be celebrated at a ceremony in the Fall of 2020 and will be profiled on the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination website. More information and nomination forms are available
here
. If you have questions about the awards or the nomination process, email [email protected] or call (703) 324-7136 TTY 711.
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Braddock District Land Use & Environment Committee
The Braddock District Land Use and Environment Committee will be holding an electronic meeting on Monday, May 11, at 7:00 p.m. The agenda will include presentation of the Kenilworth II application, consideration of the Conley Development application, and other time-sensitive Committee business. Braddock District Land Use and Environment Committee meetings are open to the public and interested residents are encouraged to participate.
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