December 10, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

Unfortunately, the predictions of health officials are coming true. New COVID-19 cases are rising after the recent Thanksgiving break. It is imperative, now more than ever, that we buckle down and follow Virginia Department of Health and Fairfax County Health Department guidelines. While December is typically a time when we visit friends, family members, and loved ones, staying home this year is the safest way to celebrate the holidays. I know these additional burdens are growing old, but it is crucial everyone commits to following health guidelines for the overall well-being of our community. 


Continue reading for more information on:

-Tonight's Lake Accotink Dredging Community Meeting
-Today's COVID-19 Update
-Governor Northam's COVID-19 Briefing
-Hypothermia Prevention Program
-VDH COVID-19 Vaccine Community Conversations
-Visit Fairfax's #SavetheDateNight Campaign
-Head Start Programs
-Local No Contact Holiday Food Drive
-VDOT Winter Weather Information
Yours in service,
Supervisor James Walkinshaw
P.S. This is our final office email for 2020. January's Braddock Beacon Newsletter will be sent out Friday, January 8.


Forward this message to your neighbors in the Braddock District! Residents can use our sign up feature or email braddock@fairfaxcounty.gov to subscribe to the monthly Braddock Beacon newsletter and Advisories like this.
Tonight's Lake Accotink Dredging
Community Meeting
Supervisor Walkinshaw will join the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) in hosting a virtual Lake Accotink Dredging community meeting tonight, Thursday, December 10, at 7:00 p.m. DPWES will provide an update on the project schedule and share the work plan for collecting data this winter. If you are unable to join, there will be a recording of the meeting available on the project website later this week.

Learn more, submit project comments, or tune into the meeting by visiting DPWES' project webpage.
Governor Northam's COVID-19 Briefing
Governor Northam will provide the latest developments on Virginia's response to COVID-19 today, Thursday, December 10, at 2:00 p.m. Watch the live briefing on the Governor's website. You can also watch the briefing at a later date by visiting the previous link.

If you or someone you know prefers to watch the briefing in Spanish, visit the Virginia Department of Management's Facebook Page.
Todays COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 cases continue to rise. It's crucial that everyone commits to following the Fairfax County Health Department Guidelines to help contain new cases this holiday season.
Review today's Fairfax County COVID-19 Dashboard below. If you would like additional information, visit the Virginia Department of Health's Pandemic Metrics website. There you can find a detailed metrics on:


If you or someone you know is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, review this County Testing Guide for resources and steps you can take.
Hypothermia Prevention
Program Underway
Nearly 1,200 Fairfax County residents remain unsheltered and exposed to the harsh and dangerously cold winter weather. Since 2005, the Hypothermia Prevention Program has prevented death and serious injuries among Fairfax County's most vulnerable residents by ensuring that no one must sleep outside during the winter months. The program provides warm shelter, food, and other supportive services to connect guests to a variety of basic needs including clothing, employment, housing, and more.

The Hypothermia Prevention Program shelters will remain available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until the morning of April 1, 2021. Individual sites will have capacity limitations due to social distancing, but staff will work to ensure that everyone has access to accommodations at one of the county’s shelter locations.

If anyone you know could benefit from the Hypothermia Prevention Program, please share this information with them.
VDH COVID-19 Vaccine
Community Conversations
The Virginia Department of Health has announced a series of COVID-19 Vaccine Community Conversation webinars this month that will focus on specific target populations to address COVID-19 vaccine questions and concerns within that population group.

Pre-registration is required for the webinars:

  • LGBTQIA+ Community Conversation – Thursday, December 10 at 6:00 p.m.
  • African American Community Conversation – Tuesday, December 15 at 6:00 p.m.
  • People with Disabilities Community Conversation – Wednesday, December 16 at 6:00 p.m.
  • Rural Community Conversation – Thursday, December 17 at 6:00 p.m.

Learn more from the Virginia Department of Health and register online.
Head Start/Early Head Start Programs
Head Start is a national child development program that serves families with children from birth to age five, and expectant parents. The program is designed to prepare children for success in school by enhancing their intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development. This service is provided at no cost to eligible families.

To apply for services and for more information on the Fairfax County Head Start program, visit the county's Office for Children website.
Local No Contact Holiday Food Drive
The Long Branch Swim and Racquet Club has joined with Long Branch Civic Association and Burke Lions Club in hosting a Neighborhood No Contact Holiday Food Drive for Fairfax County families in need.

Donations will go to Food For Others, a local nonprofit that serves Northern Virginia, and will be collected at the Long Branch Pool, located at 9100 Burnetta Dr., Annandale, Virginia, from 10:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. this Saturday, December 12.

Consider stopping by and donating to help local families this holiday season!
Backlick Road Improvements
Virtual Community Meeting
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation will hold an online community meeting to discuss the Backlick Road Spot Improvements project on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. FCDOT staff will present the project design, impacts, and upcoming tasks.

The project was originated to improve the congestion and safety of the intersection at Backlick Road and Industrial Road by adding an exclusive northbound left turn lane. Plans also include the construction of approximately 1,250 feet of sidewalk on the east side of Backlick Road, extending to the north and south of Industrial Road, which will complete a missing link.

For more information, please visit the project webpage.

Meeting Registration Information:


To submit comments, questions or feedback, please contact FCDOT:

  • Online via the red feedback form link at the bottom of the project webpage
  • Email Seyed Nabavi, Project Manager
  • In writing to: FCDOT, Attn: Backlick Road Feedback, 4050 Legato Road, Suite 400, Fairfax, VA 22033
  • By phone: (703) 877-5759; TTY 711    
Winter Weather Information
Winter is here and everyone should be ready for the snowy weather that comes with it. In November, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) held their annual Winter Weather Information Briefing for the Northern Virginia area. This briefing contained important information on VDOT's plan to keep roads safe and clear.

For information on how you can prepare for winter weather, visit VDOT's website.

Read VDOT's Snow Facts Guide below.
Visit Fairfax's
#SavetheDateNight Campaign
Visit Fairfax, the official tourism organization for Fairfax County, recently announced the launch of their #SaveTheDateNight campaign. Visit Fairfax is encouraging residents to #SaveTheDateNight by enjoying local delicious meals.

Each Thursday, starting today, December 10, residents can follow @VisitFairfax on Facebook and Instagram for a chance to win gift certificates from select restaurants by sharing something they love about a person they would like to #SaveTheDateNight with. This person could be a friend, a significant other, a parent, or even a four-legged friend!

The campaign highlights several elements to support takeout, delivery, outdoor heated dining, and indoor dining, as well as a new Chocolate Safari adventure throughout various restaurants in Fairfax County. Learn more about Visit Fairfax's new campaign by visiting their website.
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