Dear Neighbor,

In 2021, Chairman McKay and I asked our colleagues to include in our annual legislative program a request for enabling legislation to allow Fairfax County to establish a Green Bank to help finance energy efficiency, renewable energy, and resilience projects in Fairfax County. We worked closely with Del. Kaye Kory and others to get the legislation passed and I'm excited to share that this week the Board of Supervisors took a major step toward the creation of the Fairfax County Green Bank!

At a meeting of the Board's Environmental Committee, led by Supervisor Dan Storck, we received a presentation outlining the structure and timeline for the establishment of the green bank. I've long felt that a Fairfax Green Bank -- the first in Virginia -- would help us achieve our economic development, job creation, and environmental goals and I'm thrilled that we are moving forward. The next steps will be the drafting of an ordinance, a public hearing on that ordinance, and work to identify the initial funding to capitalize the bank.

I hope you can join us this week for another amazing set of performers, including Pershing's Own United States Army Blues!

This week’s featured performers are:

Next Tuesday, neighborhoods across Fairfax County will celebrate National Night Out (NNO). NNO is an annual celebration to build community, improve public safety, and strengthen relationships between communities and law enforcement.

I'll be visiting as many neighborhood events as possible and hope to see you there!

This week, we celebrated 32 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Here in Fairfax County and across the country, people with disabilities rely on the protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure that they have the same rights as everyone else. The ADA prohibits discrimination in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, and transportation.

Supervisor James Walkinshaw

A previous Advisory stated that the BA.5 subvariant is more severe than previous Omicron subvariants. A subsequent CDC report states that “there is no evidence currently available to suggest that BA.4 and BA.5 cause more severe disease than other variants or Omicron lineages. CDC is continuing to assess the impact that BA.4 and BA.5 have on public health.” As the virus evolves and more is learned about variants, updates can be found on public health websites such as the Virginia Department of Health’s weekly COVID-19 blog.

Many localities across the U.S. are experiencing high COVID-19 Community Levels. Fairfax County is at Medium. Check the CDC’s County Tracker for updates. The CDC recommends to take precautions to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 based on the COVID-19 Community Level in your area.

Since the BA.5 variant of COVID-19 became the dominant strain in the United States this month, many are wondering what resources are available in Fairfax. If you are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19, effective treatment is available that can prevent illness from becoming worse leading to hospitalization and death.

Fairfax residents continue to be encouraged to get the COVID-19 vaccine and stay up-to-date on their boosters. If you are eligible for a vaccination or a booster, please visit the federal resource page for COVID-19 vaccines or book an appointment through the Fairfax County Health Department. Vaccines are available to all individuals over 6 months of age.

If you tested positive for COVID-19, or have been exposed , it is important to take the steps recommended by the Fairfax County Health Department to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in your family and in the community.

Check the most up-to-date COVID figures at the Virginia Department of Health website.

Supervisor Walkinshaw is excited to be hosting the annual Braddock Nights Concert and Children’s Arts in the Parks Series! Every event includes a free raffle where two audience members can win a Summer Entertainment Series t-shirt! Arrive by the start of the event to get a raffle ticket. If you are interested in volunteering, contact the Braddock District office at (703) 425-9300 or Irma.Mejia-Lewis@fairfaxcounty.gov.

August 27 marks 60 years since Fairfax County acquired the Accotink reservoir from the U.S. Army and converted it into the gem that it is for outdoor recreation today! Join the Friends of Lake Accotink Park, Supervisor James Walkinshaw, and the Fairfax County Park Authority in celebrating this beautiful fixture in our Braddock District Community.

If you are available to help FLAP and FCPA celebrate this momentous occasion, there are plenty of volunteer opportunities and shifts throughout the day! Sign up here to join FLAP's corps of volunteers and you will receive a t-shirt for your time and help during the celebration.

The shredding event will take place from 7:00–11:00 a.m., unless the trucks fill up prior to the end time. All participants must be in line by 11:00 a.m. to be served. There is a four (4) box limit, based on standard banker/copy box size (12.5” W x 15.5” L x 10.5” H). If you bring documents in plastic bags, please do not tie them. All boxes, plastic/paper bags, or other containers will be returned to you after emptying.

You can find more information here.

There is great information from County partners in fire safety at the United States Fire Administration and the National Fire Protection Association. Please take a moment to check the manufacture date on your smoke alarms today.

Fairfax County Police Domestic Violence Detective Amanda Paris says that the Red Flag Law is a great tool to help keep the community safe. “Not only does it give time for the person on the order to go ahead and seek the treatment and the help that they need, but it also allows the community to feel safer by having those weapons temporarily removed.” Watch the video above and visit the Fairfax County News Alert on Virginia's Red Flag Law to learn more.

Each year, deer management is conducted in select Fairfax County parks. The program is an ongoing partnership between the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA), Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD), and other regional public land owners to oversee deer population management. If you live adjacent to one of the deer management zones, you either have or soon will receive this letter explaining the program and the contact information for the FCPD in case you have any issues or if violations occur in or around the vicinity of your home. Please be cautious during this season and take care to make yourself seen if you enter a hunting zone.

Receive free at-home tests from the Postal Service.

Receive free vision-impaired at-home tests from the Postal Service.

Check your at-home tests for their extended expiration date.