As the weather cools and the leaves begin to fall, thousands in our community are wondering how they will feed their families this winter. The shelves at local food pantries like ECHO are running low and it's our job to fill them. See below for the information you need to make a donation tomorrow!

Unfortunately some of our neighborhoods have seen a recent increase in thefts from vehicles. My office has been in close contact with the West Springfield Police Station and they are working diligently on these cases. We've included in this Advisory an update from our West Springfield District Captain Eli Cory.

The most important thing to remember is to lock your car doors and not leave keys or valuables in the car. Also, please call the non-emergency number at (703) 691-2131 to report any thefts.

Finally, a reminder that personal property taxes are due October 5. We've included payment information below, including online, phone, and mail options that allow you to make your payment from the comfort of home.

Continue reading for more information on:

On Saturday, September 26, Fastran buses will again be parked at 21 locations from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to collect food donations. Buses will be located in less-frequented lots throughout the county, including many Board of Supervisors’ offices and the Fairfax County Government Center, to allow donors to comply with social distancing recommendations.

In the Braddock District, buses will be located at:

For more information, including donation sites, a list of most-wanted items and information about donating virtually, visit the Stuff the Bus website.

If you have any crime prevention questions, contact PFC Tony Capizzi, at Anthony.capizzi@fairfaxcounty.gov or (703) 277-2363. Thank you and have a safe 2020. 

Sadly, on average, one person dies by suicide every seven hours in Virginia. It is the tenth leading cause of all deaths in the United States. A new national study of U.S. adults found that 81% believe suicide prevention should be a national priority and 52% are more open to talking about mental health as a result of COVID-19.

Join the Suicide Prevention Alliance of Northern Virginia (SPAN) in a conversation on how to strengthen emotional well-being and resilience in these unprecedented times.

This event is being held in recognition of September as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and Older Virginians Mental Health Month.

For information on the Virginia Constitutional amendments and the 4 bond questions about Public Libraries, Parks, Transportation and Health & Human Services, please visit the elections website.

Article II. Franchise and Officers. Section 6. Apportionment. Section 6-A. Virginia Redistricting Commission 1 Ballot Question

Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to establish a redistricting commission, consisting of eight members of the General Assembly and eight citizens of the Commonwealth, that is responsible for drawing the congressional and state legislative districts that will be subsequently voted on, but not changed by, the General Assembly and enacted without the Governor’s involvement and to give the responsibility of drawing districts to the Supreme Court of Virginia if the redistricting commission fails to draw districts or the General Assembly fails to enact districts by certain deadlines?

Should an automobile or pickup truck that is owned and used primarily by or for a veteran of the United States armed forces or the Virginia National Guard who has a one hundred percent service-connected, permanent, and total disability be free from state and local taxation?

There are four bond questions on the Nov. 3, 2020, general election ballot, and voters will be asked to vote YES or NO on each of these questions.

Bonds to raise $90,000,000 to build, renovate, equip, and purchase land for library facilities.

A bond in the amount of $160,000,000 for the purpose of financing Fairfax County's share, under the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Compact.

A bond in the amount of $79,000,000 for the purpose of providing funds to improve community health & human services facilities and if necessary to acquire additional land.

A bond in the amount of $112,000,000 to finance the Fairfax County Park Authority's to preserve open-space land, and to develop and improve existing parks and park facilities; and to finance Fairfax County's contribution to the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority.

The Personal Property Tax Deadline is October 5, 2020. With a variety of payment options, you don't need to go to the Fairfax County Government Center to pay (expect long lines if you do).

Amazon, Walmart and Wegmans are among more than 20 companies in Northern Virginia that will be seeking candidates for thousands of open positions at the October 8 Hiring and Reskilling Virtual Career Fair. The event is the third in a series of virtual career fairs presented by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA), and open to anyone looking for job and/or reskilling opportunities.

The Hiring and Reskilling Virtual Career Fair will welcome job seekers of all backgrounds, especially those unemployed due to COVID-19. The open positions will span a variety of industries, and not all require a college degree – including store clerks, construction, program managers, information security analysts and more. For those interested in training programs, there will be organizations that train and place candidates in lucrative tech careers in a matter of months at no cost to participants. The virtual career fair is open to all industries and levels of experience.

Participation is free of charge and you must register to attend.

Each year the flu causes millions of illnesses in the United States, and people age 65 and older account for the majority of flu hospitalizations and deaths. An annual flu vaccine is the best way to reduce your risk of getting sick.

To help protect older adults in our community, the Fairfax County Health Department and Department of Neighborhood and Community Services are offering flu vaccination clinics at select Senior Centers.

This service begins on October 6 and is available to residents 50 and older by appointment only (see dates below).

Herndon Senior Center, 873 Grace St., Herndon

(times also available October 8 and 9)

Lincolnia Senior Center, 4710 N. Chambliss St., Alexandria

(times also available Oct. 21 & 22)

Original Mt. Vernon High School, 8333 Richmond Hwy., Alexandria

(times also available Oct. 28 & 29)

Little River Glen Senior Center, 4001 Barker Ct., Fairfax

(times also available Nov. 4 & 5)

Lewinsville Senior Center, 1613 Great Falls St., McLean

(times also available Nov. 10 & 12)

For your safety, appointments are limited, and face masks and temperature checks will be required. Don’t wait – take control of your health this season and get a flu vaccine!

To make your appointment, call (703) 246-6010, TTY 711. Learn more about the flu season on Fairfax County Health Department's website.

Fairfax County's Neighbor to Neighbor program is hosting two upcoming informational meetings in concert with local community organizations. These meetings are intended to help senior citizens learn about the benefits of the Village Concept.

Village and neighbor to neighbor (N2N) programs involve neighbors joining together to form a volunteer group that offers support and access to services for their older neighbors.

Make sure to tune into these events by using the information found on the graphics below.

Follow the Mason Dashboard to stay informed.

Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Campus' Lyceum Committee has changed the line-up for their virtual Fall 2020 Semester Lunch and Learn Justice and Equity Series via Zoom on Thursdays and added a discussion about the Virginia ballot question to amend the constitution to create a redistricting commission on Thursday, October 1 at 12:30 p.m. NVCC invites you to participate.

Registration is required in advance for this presentation and registration information can be found on the Lyceum Committee blog. A confirmation e-mail will then be sent containing the Zoom link to join the presentation.

The video is being produced by Channel 16 and will debut this fall. The house will not be open as previously planned on September 26, 2020. Information about the site and the debut of the virtual tour can be found online.