Dear Neighbor,

Voting in the upcoming Congressional election is underway, and this week you'll have more convenient ways to cast your ballot.

Early voting locations such as the Burke Centre Library and the West Springfield Governmental Center are open on weekdays and Saturdays. For the first time, Sunday voting will be available at these sites on October 30 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. For full details, visit the Fairfax County Early Voting website.

If you missed the deadline to register or update your voter registration, no need to worry! Same Day Registration is now an option for the first time in Virginia.

Focus on Safe Driving

Earlier this week, a pedestrian was struck and seriously injured while walking her dogs on the sidewalk in the Kings Park West neighborhood. The driver was charged with felony hit and run. One dog was killed, and another dog was injured. The investigation of this incident is ongoing, and we do not yet know the full circumstances. 

Like all of us, I am deeply saddened by this event. My thoughts are with the victim and her family. Unfortunately, we are in the midst of a nationwide epidemic of unsafe driving and pedestrian deaths. While the Braddock District has had fewer incidents than other parts of Fairfax County, we have not been unaffected.

Although the Virginia Department of Transportation, not Fairfax County, owns and maintains the roads in the County, we have recently devoted significant local resources to funding pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements.

We work with VDOT to add improvements such as bike lanes which are proven to reduce speeds on residential streets and we help communities who wish to engage in the Residential Traffic Administration Program to seek traffic calming measures -- like speed humps -- in accordance with VDOT’s guidelines.

Recently, the County launched the “Take a Moment” campaign to remind everyone that staying safe on the roads as a driver, cyclist or pedestrian is everyone’s responsibility. We need to watch out for one another and do our best to protect each other from accidents that lead to injuries or death. See some tips below about pedestrian safety on Halloween, October 31. 

Join the Braddock District Council or Land Use & Environment Committee

Joining the Braddock District Council is a great way for you and your neighborhood to be connected to your local government, your community, and those around you. The Braddock District Council has new leadership and an exciting agenda of events and opportunities! Learn more at the BDC's website.

Similarly, serving on the Braddock District Land Use and Environment Committee is an opportunity to have direct input on developments proposed around the district, and to make recommendations to the Planning Commission and to my office. They are actively seeking new members and no prior experience is required. Learn more at the BLUE Committee website. 

Continue reading below for more information on:

• Halloween Safety
• Nominations Open for Best of Braddock Awards
• SHAPE the Future of Aging Focus Group and Town Halls
• Kings Park Library Book Sale
• Speak Up and Help Shape the Park System of the Future
• VDOT Road Closures
• Fairfax County Police Community Events
• Comments Requested on Affordable Housing Preservation Policy
• Inova Activating Internal Emergency Operations Plan
• AARP Caregiving Webinars
• Leadership Fairfax Youth Conference Free Registration Now Open
• DEA October Drug Takeback Day
• Updated Public Health Information

Supervisor James Walkinshaw

October 31 will be the first Halloween since children have been eligible for COVID vaccines and boosters, so we anticipate a very active evening of trick-or-treating. Read Fairfax County's Guide to Halloween 2022 for information on safety and ways to celebrate. Included are tips for trick-or-treating, driver and pedestrian safety, costumes, home and pet safety, and ways to dispose of pumpkins.

The Fairfax County Police Department also provides some excellent tips for child safety.

There's still time to nominate your neighbors and fellow Braddock residents who contribute to making our community a better place to live, work, and play. This year's Best of Braddock nominations can be submitted through this form. 

Categories include:

• Braddock District Citizen of the Year
• Braddock District Young Person of the Year
• Neighborhood Enhancement or Beautification in the Braddock District (Individual Homeowner, HOA/Community Association, or Other)
• Most “Can-Do” Public Employee Working on Issues in the Braddock District (Federal, State, or Local)
• Club or Organization Making a Difference in the Braddock District

We hope everyone will take a moment to consider a neighbor deserving of a Best of Braddock award!  Please submit your completed nominations to [email protected] or in-person to the Braddock District Office (9002 Burke Lake Road, Burke, 22015) by Friday, November 4.

The Department of Family Services’ Fairfax Area Agency on Aging (DFS/AAA) is leading the development of our SHAPE the Future of Aging Strategic Plan. The plan will be informed by the results from the Community Assessment Survey for Older Adults (CASOA) about the needs of older adults in our community. The goal is to develop a comprehensive plan that will address gaps in services, identify resources, and create positive opportunities that will support the needs of older adults in our community. The County is dedicated to ensuring a diversity of voices and experiences are incorporated into this project. 

Supervisor Walkinshaw along with DFS/AAA is asking for your participation in a community focus group to provide suggestions to improve resources and services for older adults in the Braddock District. The focus group will take place on Thursday, November 17 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Braddock Hall – located at the Braddock District office, 9002 Burke Lake Road, Burke, VA. A virtual option will be available.

Supervisor Walkinshaw's office is looking for senior Braddock District residents to join the focus group and provide feedback on the following topics:

Services for Older Adults & Family Caregivers (caregiver support, dementia friendly, resources)

Housing & Neighborhood Support (affordable housing, home modifications, home maintenance, Villages, livable communities)

Access to Mobility Options (transportation, mobility support, walkability)

Personal Well-Being (community engagement, isolation, public & mental health, nutrition)

Economic Stability & Planning (financial stability, exploitation, employment, end of life, business partnerships)

If you would like to participate in the community focus group, please contact Irma Mejia-Lewis by no later than November 9 at (703) 425-9300 or [email protected].

Additionally, the County is holding regional SHAPE the Future of Aging Town Halls in the coming weeks.

The plan includes collecting additional input from the community. If you would like to attend an upcoming town hall meeting, please register. The following town halls are taking place in or near the Braddock District:

Friday, November 4, 2022 - Register

1:30 to 3:00 p.m. 

Fairfax County Government Center - Room 120-C

12000 Government Center Pkwy

Fairfax, VA 22035

Thursday, November 10, 2022 - Register

1:30 to 3:00 p.m. 

Annandale Heritage Center – Rooms A & B

7611 Little River Turnpike

Annandale, VA 22003

Your input from the town hall meetings will be used to help inform the SHAPE the Future of Aging Plan.

The Friends of Kings Park Library are once again hosting their Book Sale! 

Location:

9000 Burke Lake Road

Burke, VA 22015

Dates and times:

Thursday, November 3 from 10:00 a.m to 8:00 p.m.

Friday, November 4 from 10:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 5 from 10:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m.

Books will be sorted into categories - easy to find what you want!

On Saturday, books are reduced to half price in the morning, followed by a "by the bag" rate.

The Book Sale supports the Summer Reading Program, Youth & Adult programs, the 3D Printer, furniture and computers, magazine subscriptions, display & electronic items, volunteer appreciation events, Fall for the Book, and the Fairfax Library Foundation. Learn more at the Friends of Kings Park Library page.

There is still time to have your say and make an impact on the Fairfax County park system of the future! You can still join in the conversation online at an approaching workshop.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is developing a Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Access Strategy (PROSA). Building on the Great Parks, Great Communities Parks & Recreation System Master Plan, Great Parks, Great Communities Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2019 – 2023, and One Fairfax, the PROSA Strategy will provide a framework for equitable access to the park system. The PROSA Strategy is anticipated to be completed in 2023 and will provide a pathway toward improved park access and a balance of recreational experiences. Additionally, the PROSA Strategy will examine the following issues:

• Identify gaps in a 10-minute walk to access parks
• Evaluate complete park experiences
• Analyze habitat connectivity between environmental corridors
• Analyze and prioritize needs and projects through an equity lens

The Park Authority is seeking your input in this process. The public is invited to participate in this virtual public workshop and help shape the future of our local park system. Join the upcoming workshop to learn about the project and to provide your input and ideas. FCPA invites participants to preregister using the link below. Please note registration is optional and you can visit the project website the day of the workshop to participate.

The workshop will take place on Tuesday, November 1, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. Register for the meeting here: PROSA Community Workshop 2.

For more information, please visit the PROSA webpage; or contact the Public Information Office at [email protected].

Extended Closures of Ramps from Route 123 (Chain Bridge Road) to I-66 East Through October 28

The ramps from Route 123 (Chain Bridge Road) North and South to I-66 East will be closed continuously for multiple days and nights for final paving. Through Friday morning, October 28, the ramp from Route 123 South to I-66 East will be closed. The ramp from Route 123 North to I-66 East will then close Friday morning and reopen during the early morning hours Saturday, October 29. During these closures traffic will access I-66 East using the new ramp to the future eastbound 66 Express Lanes. This work is part of the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project.

Drivers should expect delays if traveling in the area and consider using alternate routes. 

Details include:

Wednesday, October 26, continuously through Friday, October 28

Ramp from Route 123 South to I-66 East

• The ramp will be closed continuously through 6 a.m. Friday. 

• Traffic will stay left when crossing over I-66, then turn left at the traffic signal to the ramp to the future 66 Express Lanes East (prior to the closed ramp) to merge onto the I-66 East general-purpose lanes.

• Traffic on I-66 East should be aware of traffic merging onto the highway from the left. 

Friday, October 28

Ramp from Route 123 North to I-66 East

• The ramp will be closed around 6 a.m. Friday through 6 a.m. the following morning. 

• Traffic will be directed farther north, stay to the right, then turn right at the traffic signal onto the ramp to the future 66 Express Lanes East and merge onto the I-66 East general-purpose lanes.

• Traffic on I-66 East should be award of traffic merging onto the highway from the left. 

All work is weather dependent and will be rescheduled if inclement conditions occur.

When complete, the reconstructed Route 123/I-66 Interchange will provide direct access to and from the new Express Lanes for both eastbound and westbound travelers. A new shared-use path through the interchange will provide connection between the new I-66 corridor trail and planned trails in the City of Fairfax. 

Construction and lane closure updates are available at Transform66.org and on Twitter @VaDOTNOVA. To receive updates automatically by email, sign up here. 

495 NEXT Project Lane Closures and Traffic Changes Through October 31, 2022

Construction-related lane closures and traffic changes are planned to occur in the I-495 Express Lanes Northern Extension (495 NEXT) project corridor. Travelers should expect potential delays when traveling in this area, and are encouraged to visit 511virginia.org for current information on travel conditions and work zones in Virginia.

Lane Closures 

I-495 (CAPITAL BELTWAY) 

Friday, October 28, 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Double left lane closures on northbound I-495 from Georgetown Pike to the George Washington Memorial Parkway for support work on the Georgetown Pike bridge.

GEORGE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL PARKWAY INTERCHANGE 

George Washington Memorial Parkway North and South

Friday, October 28, at 10 p.m. through Monday, October 31, at 5 a.m.

Continuous single left lane closures on the northbound and southbound George Washington Memorial Parkway for surface work.

For full information on closures and on the project, visit 495NEXT.org.

West Springfield Community Advisory Committee, Community Engagement Meeting:

The West Springfield District Community Advisory Committee will be hosting a Community Engagement Meeting on Tuesday, November 1, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. These meetings offer the community a chance to dialogue and communicate more effectively with officers of the Fairfax County Police Department. 

The speaker will be from the Crisis Intervention Team. The meeting will be held virtually. Please follow the Zoom link below. 

Consider signing up for the West Springfield Community Advisory Committee (CAC) newsletter. The email address is [email protected]. The CAC meetings are generally held on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. (except for July and August), and all ages are welcome to attend. 

If you have any questions, contact MPO Tony Capizzi at (703) 277-2363.

Topic: West Springfield District CAC Community Engagement Meeting

Time: November 1, 2022, 7:00 p.m.

Click here to join

Password: 441836

Or Telephone:

  Dial (877) 402-9753 (US Toll Free)

  Conference code: 404496

West Springfield District Full Neighborhood Watch Training

The West Springfield District Station will be hosting Neighborhood Watch training on Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. This training is required before you may participate in the Neighborhood Watch Program. You are only required to take this training once, unless you would like a refresher or have questions. The meeting will be held via Zoom. The Zoom link is attached below. If you have any questions, contact MPO Tony Capizzi at (703) 277-2363 or [email protected].

Topic: West Springfield District Full Neighborhood Watch Training

Time: November 10, 2022, 6:30 p.m.

Click here to join

  Password: 190063

Or Telephone:

  Dial: (877) 402-9753 (US Toll Free)

  Conference code: 404496

The comment period for the proposed Affordable Housing Preservation Policy is open through Friday, November 4, 2022.

This proposed policy encourages the preservation of existing affordable rental housing uses and structures throughout the County. Please take a few minutes to review the policy and submit your thoughts about it. Community feedback will be used inform any additional changes to the proposed Comprehensive Plan text.

Following this comment period, the plan text and public comments will be provided to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors for consideration in a series of public hearings in late Fall 2022 and Winter 2023.

Read more and submit your comments.

From Inova:

In response to increasing patient volume and strain on hospital capacity, effective Monday, Oct. 24, Inova is activating its internal Emergency Operations Plan. Declaring emergency status allows us to better prioritize patient and team member safety, leverage operational efficiencies, and make decisions in a dynamic environment to better support the evolving needs of the community.

As part of this activation, Inova will stand up its Emergency Operations Center and Hospital Incident Command Centers, which are staffed seven days a week with a multidisciplinary team of clinical, infection prevention, emergency management and other key team members.

Inova Emergency Departments (ED), in particular, across the system are experiencing a significant surge in patient volume, due to an increase in the circulation of respiratory viruses (e.g. RSV, rhinovirus, influenza) and other illnesses. Many EDs are operating at capacity and for every patient discharged another is admitted. 

Our patients can be assured that Inova is equipped to handle the current surge, as we have always done. We have the resources to continue providing seamless, world-class care to our community and have put every strategy in place to expand capacity where we can, including the construction of a temporary Auxiliary Screening Unit (ASU) outside of the Inova Fairfax Medical Campus ED. While not yet in use, the ASU is a contingency plan which could serve as a pre-triage location to separate patients based on their emergency medical needs, and to help alleviate crowding inside the ED registration areas. 

In the meantime, we need the community’s support: get vaccinated for both flu and COVID-19, and boosted for COVID-19 if you’re eligible. Continue to practice safety measures including hand hygiene, masking, and social distancing as appropriate.

In addition, patients are encouraged to consider if the hospital-based emergency department is the appropriate level of care to meet their medical needs. For emergency needs, Inova’s freestanding emergency departments provide the same level of emergency care and may have shorter wait times. If your condition does not require emergency care, consider whether Primary Care or an Urgent Care Center is more appropriate. Inova also partners with DispatchHealth, which provides urgent medical care at your home.

If you are experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency department.

Please refer to this guidance to determine what level of medical care you need:

Join AARP for two special webinars in November to celebrate National Family Caregivers Month.

Caregiving 101: Creating a Plan

Thursday, November 3 at 7:00 p.m.

During this session, a framework will be shared to help you make plans to care for friends, family members, or loved ones. Learn about resources available to you and your loved ones, connect with other family caregivers, & exchange tips and advice. Participants will receive a complimentary copy of AARP’s Prepare to Care Guide.



RSVP here

Making Cents of Caregiving Costs

Tuesday, November 29 at 12:00 noon

Get the most out of AARP’s Financial Workbook for Family Caregivers. In this informative and educational session, you will be introduced to essential information caregivers need to more easily manage some of the complexities of caregiving. Over the course of the presentation, the AARP Financial Workbook for Family Caregivers will be reviewed, you will learn how to incorporate financial tips into your caregiving, and additional resources will be provided. By the end of the session, you should have the confidence to make your own plans, as well as a better understanding of how to plan for your care recipient. Participants will receive a complimentary copy of the AARP Financial Workbook for Family Caregivers and a copy of AARP’s Prepare to Care Guide.

RSVP here

Youth Leadership Conference Registration Open

Free for Fairfax County Youth

Leadership Fairfax is proud to present a 2-day Youth Leadership Network Conference on Friday, November 11 and Saturday, November 12, 2022, at Virginia Tech Northern Virginia Center, free for all Fairfax County youth ages 12 – 22. The conference will provide opportunities for Fairfax youth to connect with other young leaders, learn about new topics and expand their knowledge of leadership skills they can use in school, at clubs and on councils. Register here.

On October 29, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will sponsor its October National Drug Takeback event. Drug takeback programs are a safe method for disposing of prescription drugs and are organized and closely monitored by local, state, and federal government agencies.

Safe disposal of unused or expired medications prevents drug abuse and misuse, accidental poisoning, and protects the environment.

Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Drop off unused or expired medications at the locations listed below.

(Accepted items: prescription and non-prescription pills, e-cigarettes and vaping devices with batteries removed, small liquid packs/pods for e-cigarettes and vaping devices, prescription ointments, and medications for pets. Not accepted: illegal drugs, pressurized canisters [inhalers/aerosol cans], needles, large sources of liquids, non-prescription ointments and lotions.)

• West Springfield District Station -- 6140 Rolling Road, Springfield, VA 22152
• Fair Oaks District Station -- 12300 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway, Fairfax, VA 22033

Seasonal Flu - Get the Vaccine

Influenza, also known as the flu, is a highly contagious infection of the breathing system (nose, throat and lungs) caused by flu viruses.

Seasonal flu is caused by viruses that already circulate among people. Most people have some immunity and a vaccine is available to help prevent the flu. In the United States, flu season usually starts in late fall and lasts throughout the winter, sometimes into early spring. Each year, more than 200,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized from complications of the flu, and about 36,000 die as a result.

Health experts urge everyone 6 months of age and older to get a flu shot this year and every year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting a flu vaccination.

See: CDC's Frequently Asked Flu Questions: 2022-2023 Season. 

Where to Get a Flu Vaccine

Flu vaccine is available now in the community, including at pharmacies, doctor’s offices, and grocery stores. Find a location near you using vaccines.gov.

The Health Department is offering flu shots for children and adults by appointment only. Call 703-246-7100.

The following fees will apply for a flu vaccine at the Health Department: Uninsured: $25 adults & $21.24 children; Private Insurance: $30. Most health insurance plans cover flu shots for free. The Health Department is out-of-network for private health insurance. If you have private health insurance, you are encouraged to get the flu vaccine at an in-network provider. 

Omicron Resistant Bivalent Booster Available for individuals 5 Years and Older

The Fairfax County Health Department is accepting appointments for individuals 5 years and older to receive the new Pfizer Bio-N-Tech COVID-19 Bivalent Booster shot. If you would like to vaccinate yourself or your child, appointments are available at the Fairfax County Government Center and South County Hyland Center and Health Department district offices.  Schedule your booster appointment at the Fairfax County Health Department website.

The CDC recommends a single dose of the new COVID-19 bivalent booster at least two months following a completed primary series or previous booster vaccination. The bivalent vaccines, also known as “updated boosters,” target the Omicron’s BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants, as well as the original COVID-19 strain. The updated Pfizer booster is for people ages 5 and over and the Moderna version is for those 18 and older.

Changes to County Vaccination Center Hours

With COVID-19 vaccines now widely available at pharmacies, urgent care centers and medical providers throughout the community, clinics located at the Government Center and Hyland South County Center are scheduled to scale back their hours of operation.

Starting the week of November 7, both vaccination sites will be open for three days each week. Specific times/days of operation will be:

Hyland South County Center (8350 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA 22309)

• Mondays (noon – 5:45 p.m. walk in hours, appointments can be made 11:30 a.m. – 6:15 p.m.).
• Tuesdays and Wednesdays (9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. walk in hours, appointments can be made 9:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.).
• *Site will now be closed on Thursdays and Fridays.

Fairfax County Government Center (12000 Government Center Parkway

Fairfax, VA 22035)

• Thursdays (noon – 5:45 p.m. walk in hours, appointments can be made 11:30 a.m. – 6:15 p.m.).
• Fridays and Saturdays (9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. walk in hours, appointments can be made 9:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.).
• *Site will now be closed Sunday, Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Additional schedule changes due to upcoming holidays will be:

• Election Day Holiday (Nov. 8): Hyland South County Center clinic will be closed.
• Veterans Day Holiday (Nov. 11): Government Center clinic will be closed.
• Thanksgiving Holidays (Nov. 24-26): Government Center clinic will be closed (only Hyland South County Center Clinic will be open that week on Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday)

Permanent Closures in December

It is also important to note that both the Hyland South County and Government Center Clinics are scheduled to permanently close in December 2022.

• Final day for Hyland South County Center: Wednesday, Dec. 14
• Final day for Fairfax County Government Center: Saturday, Dec. 17

Health Safety Precautions

Now is a good time to take advantage of these Fairfax County clinics; before the holiday season begins and everyone spends more time indoors. Even if you or your child or family member has had COVID, vaccination is still strongly encouraged as it provides added protection against the virus that causes COVID-19. Vaccination is one clear way to provide everyone, six months and older, with increased protection from severe illness.

As seasonal viruses spread this fall and winter, everyone is urged to take health and safety precautions (in addition to vaccinations) to prevent spread:

• Use tissues and dispose of them properly.
• Cover your mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, or cough into your upper sleeve.
• Do not cough or sneeze into your hands.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth to prevent the spread of germs.
• Wash hands regularly with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water are not available (with supervision for younger children).
• Do not share drinking glasses or eating utensils.

Mobile Testing Continues

At this time, the Health Department continues to offer COVID-19 testing through its mobile laboratory partner Curative at locations throughout the county.

• Testing is recommended for individuals who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or who may have been exposed to COVID-19.
• No appointment is necessary; if you wish to make an appointment, you can do so on the Curative website.
• No identification required.
• No out-of-pocket costs.
• PCR tests are offered (no rapid tests are available).

The mobile testing lab rotates between sites each day. Tests are available on the following days and times at these locations:

Stay Informed About COVID-19

• Contact the Fairfax County Health Department Call Centers Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., for questions about COVID-19 (703-267-3511) or vaccines (703-324-7404). You also can email [email protected].
• Text FFXCOVID to 888777 to receive updates from Fairfax County about COVID-19; text FFXCOVIDESP to 888777 for updates in Spanish.
• Visit a web portal for coronavirus that serves as a one-stop online resource for information.
• Learn more about COVID-19 on the Health Department Coronavirus (COVID-19) Webpage or FAQ page.
• Follow the Fairfax County Government Fairfax County Government Facebook Page and Health Department Facebook Page.
• Follow @fairfaxcounty and @fairfaxhealth on Twitter.