Dear Neighbor,

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is this Monday, June 19. The holiday is celebrated on the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas were told that they were emancipated. These 250,000 enslaved African Americans were the last to be given freedom by the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been in effect for more than two years.

In 2020, Fairfax County declared Juneteenth a County holiday, following former Governor Northam's declaration of observation of the day as a state holiday.

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) has several events planned to celebrate Juneteenth - including a Lunch & Learn on Monday and free walking tours all weekend at the Sully Historic Site. You can find more events on FCPA's website or check out Juneteenth educational resources here.

My office and other County offices will be closed on Monday in observance of the holiday. The Fairfax Connector will follow their Sunday schedule; more information about the County's operating status is available here.

Primary Elections

Primary Election Day is this Tuesday, June 20! Polls will be open from 6:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

You can confirm your registration and precinct information on the Virginia Department of Elections Citizen Portal.

Early voting is still underway at 16 polling locations, including in and around the Braddock District through this Saturday, June 17. All voting locations will be open for the last day of early voting from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 17.

Locations in or around the Braddock District:

• Fairfax County Government Center | Conference Rooms 2/3 - 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax
• Weekday hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
• Saturday, June 17 hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Burke Centre Library - 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke
• Weekday hours: 1:00 - 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, June 17 hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• West Springfield Governmental Center - 6140 Rolling Road, Springfield
• Weekday hours: 1:00 - 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, June 17 hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

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. 

Please be reminded that political signage in the public right-of-way is prohibited in Fairfax County. For more information about this, visit the Department of Code Compliance's website.

Volunteer at the Braddock Summer Entertainment Series

The Braddock Entertainment Series kicks off with our Arts in the Parks Children's Series this Saturday, June 17, at 10:00 a.m. at Wakefield Park in front of the Audrey Moore Rec Center (8100 Braddock Road, Annandale).

Braddock Nights, our evening concerts, will return on Friday, July 7 at Royal Lake Park (5344 Gainsborough Drive, Fairfax) and Lake Accotink Park (7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield).

To ensure the success of these events, we need your help! Whether you can volunteer for one event or the entire series, we appreciate you! If you are interested in volunteering, please email my office.

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:

• Vacation Safety Reminders from FCPD
• Metro Lift Launching June 20
• FCPS Instructional Job Fair on June 22
• Better Bus Visionary Network Feedback
• Senior Cool Care Program
• Nominations Open for 2023 Stephen A. McLaughlin Champions of Character Awards
• Nominate a Braddock Citizen of the Month!
• Virginia Energy Assistance Program
• Mason Small Business Development Centers
• Braddock District Council: Note from the Chair

Home security starts with you! As vacation season ramps up, the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) needs your help in preventing burglaries.

Officers from the Crime Prevention Unit have identified simple tips that can help strengthen the security of your property and deter crime:

• Install security cameras that preferably have recording capabilities.
• If you’re heading out of town, avoid announcing your plans on social media.
• Ensure your residence appears occupied, even when no one is home, by using timers on lights.
• Keep all doors and windows closed and locked.
• Secure sliding glass doors by placing a metal rod or a wooden dowel rod in the track.
• Lock the door to an attached garage.
• Keep the perimeter of your home well-lit.
• Have a trusted neighbor check on your home if you plan to be away.
• Keep landscaping trimmed near entrances and walkways.
• Organize or join a Neighborhood Watch program.
• Keep an inventory of your property.
• Store ladders, tools, and any other outside objects in a locked shed or garage.
• Set a reminder every night before bed to lock your car and home to keep them safe.
• Report suspicious activity to our non-emergency number at (703) 691-2131. If you have an emergency, use 911. 

Did you know that Crime Prevention Officers have specialized training in conducting home security surveys? Please contact the local district station to learn more and sign up.

You can also join FCPD on Neighbors by Ring; a place to connect with neighbors, see what’s happening in the neighborhood and share any available surveillance footage with FCPD.

More information about home security can be found on FCPD's blog.

Beginning Tuesday, June 20, Metro will begin offering reduced fares to assist low-income customers for the first time. The new income-qualified reduced fare program, 'Metro Lift,' is available for DC, Maryland and Virginia residents who qualify for the US Department of Agriculture's Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) are eligible to enroll.

The program advances transit equity and affordability, in a region considered one of the most expensive in the nation and where low-income households face the greatest economic disparities. Customers enrolled in Metro Lift will receive a 50 percent discount for any travel on Metrorail and Metrobus.

It is free to enroll in Metro Lift. Residents must show that they are current recipients of SNAP benefits in DC, Maryland, or Virginia to qualify for Metro Lift. The fare discount will be valid for one year after enrollment and will be available up to 48 hours after online enrollment.

Online enrollment and appointment scheduling will begin on Tuesday, June 20, at wmata.com/MetroLift. Metro will continue to refine the program based on customer feedback and is working to expand enrollment locations over time. FAQ's and enrollment information can be found on Metro's website.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is searching for educators with strong academic backgrounds and a passion for making a difference. To meet hiring needs in instructional areas, they are hosting an in-person and virtual job fair on Thursday, June 22 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. with networking and interviewing opportunities with representatives from various FCPS schools will be available.

To be considered for an invitation, candidates must:

1. Apply for a position online.
2. Register for the in-person or virtual job fair. You will receive a follow-up email with event logistics.

Questions should be directed to the FCPS Department of Human Resources at hrconnection@fcps.edu or by calling (571) 423-3000.

The in-person job fair is at Edison High School (5801 Franconia Rd

Alexandria). Learn more from FCPS' Job Fair announcement.

On April 17, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) began asking the community for feedback on their Better Bus Visionary Network program. The Better Bus Visionary Network aims to improve the frequency, speed, and reliability in the Washington Metropolitan Area to advance equity, sustainability, and access to opportunities.

There are a variety of methods for you to provide input, including a route feedback map, a survey, and events. They have extended the deadline for feedback to Sunday, June 18. Share your thoughts and find more information about the program on the Better Bus website.

Are you in need of additional cooling during the summer? The Senior Cool Care Program is a public-private partnership sponsored by Dominion Energy and administered by the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services through the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging that helps low-income older citizens in our jurisdiction keep cool during summer months. The program runs until October 31, 2023. This program does not provide financial assistance, but it provides additional cooling at home, such as fans, for eligible older adults, age 60 and older.

If you are interested in learning more about the program, please contact the Aging, Disability & Caregiver Resource Line: (703) 324-7948 or visit the Department of Family Services' website.

The awards program, founded in 2001, honors county youth, coaches and parents in each magisterial district for extraordinary service in pursuing victory with honor on and off the field of competition. Instituted by the Fairfax County Athletic Council, this program aims to support the tradition of amateur athletics in cultivating teamwork, leadership, good sportsmanship and community service. 

Nominations for this year's awards are due by August 1, 2023. To nominate an athlete, coach or parent, visit Stephen A. McLaughlin Fairfax County Champions of Character Awards.

Do you know someone who lives in the Braddock District who exemplifies selflessness, displays a love for their community, has a passion for serving others, or volunteers their time to better the Braddock District?

Nominate them today to be recognized in Supervisor Walkinshaw's monthly newsletter, The Braddock Beacon.

Nomination deadline for July Citizen of the Month is Friday, June 30 at 11:59 p.m.

Contact the Braddock District Office if you have any questions.

The Virginia Energy Assistance Program (EAP) assists low-income households in meeting their immediate home energy needs. To be eligible, households must have a heating or cooling expense and gross monthly income may not exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty level. Information about the U.S. federal poverty guidelines used to determine financial eligibility can be found here.

Applications for Fuel, Crisis, and Cooling assistance are accepted now through August 15 at the Fairfax Department of Social Services (12011 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax).

The EAP consists of four components: Fuel Assistance, Crisis Assistance, Cooling Assistance, and Weatherization Assistance. For application information about each specific program, please click here.

Are you a small business owner or thinking about becoming an entrepreneur? Small business development centers (SBDCs) use business experts from George Mason University to provide no-cost business counseling and training services to the small business community. Training and workshops cover business formation, marketing, pitch preparation, financing, SEO, cybersecurity, government contracting, and more.

Find more information on Mason's SBDC website.

From the Chair:

I have always believed that a community association by whatever name is the basic building block of democracy. Each association is established for the common good of its members, has a ‘constitution’ (Bylaws), an elected ‘government’ (board of directors), and can ‘tax’ (collect dues, whether voluntary or required); some even have ‘laws’ (restrictive covenants) and enforcement powers (liens, fines). It is closest of all governments to its citizens and like all governments, it is only as effective as the active and informed participation of its citizens make it.

Braddock District has over 165 associations, be they HOAs, civic, community, condominium, or swimming pool associations. To enable these bodies to serve their members more effectively, the Braddock District Council of Community Associations was established some decades ago. The Council has as its stated purpose “to collectively represent the interests of community associations that are members in good standing that lie within the Braddock Magisterial District, to facilitate cooperation and coordination between community associations of the Braddock District, and to provide a path of communications between associations and officials/elected representatives for the Braddock District—both as part of normal business and for disaster preparedness purposes, if necessary.” In other words, the Council exists to promote the “general welfare” of the citizens of the district. Does that phrase sound familiar?

During all the social disturbances of the COVID-19 pandemic years, the Council was unable to continue as it had and ceased to function. Rebooted in June, 2022, it is now approaching the end of the first post-pandemic year of operation. Accomplishments include:

• BDC membership reaching 24 associations.
• We implemented a Strategic Communications Plan to provide information to all associations in Braddock District via various communications means, including a brand-new website.
• The Council supported Supervisor Walkinshaw’s Annual “Best of Braddock” Awards event.
• The Council sponsored the annual Legislative Review meeting featuring eight elected officials who discussed various state and local issues with constituents.
• The Braddock District Council “Aging in Place” program founded in 2011 and still run by Bruce Wallachy continued to be a valuable resource for seniors.
• The Council arranged three presentations on the topics of association insurance matters, an award-winning neighborhood litter cleanup program developed by a high-school student in the Villa community, and the Braddock Road Multimodal Improvements Project.

Of note, the Council’s Webmaster, Charlotte Hannagan, was recognized on May 10 by Volunteer Fairfax as a “Community Champion” representing Braddock District. In addition to being involved in a number of other community volunteer efforts, Charlotte was specifically cited for her role in developing the new Council website and handling other aspects of the Council’s Strategic Communications Plan. Well done, Charlotte!

In order to build on the success of the first year of the “new” Braddock District Council, we need two things: elected officers and more members. Secretary Susan Di Maina and I are continuing for another year. However, the positions of vice-chair and treasurer are becoming vacant. I can’t say enough about how hard the current incumbents, Sarah Lennon and Kevin Morse, respectively, have worked to get the Council up and running from the moment they were elected in June 2022. While we do have a candidate for vice-chair, we definitely need someone to come forward to be put on the ballot for treasurer. We also are looking for a replacement for Bruce Wallachy to keep the “Aging in Place” program going. I am very cognizant of the fact that I am asking for volunteers to give that most precious of commodities: their personal time. But I also offer them the opportunity to contribute in a very visible and most meaningful way to making Braddock District the best place in Fairfax County in which to live.

I look forward to seeing you at the June 21 meeting for the Braddock District Council elections. Beyond that, I look forward to what the Council can accomplish in the 2023-2024 year with more new members, two new officers, and many new ideas coming from member associations.

Bob Cosgriff

Chair