Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and we have much to be thankful for. Throughout the pandemic, I’ve seen our community come together in big and small ways to support one another and keep working to build a stronger community. Just this weekend, I joined a Daisy Troop from the Fairfax Villa neighborhood that was out cleaning up litter from one of our local parks.

I’m thankful that all adults age 18 and over are now eligible to receive booster vaccinations. A booster dose boosts immunity and reduces the likelihood of infection. If you are eligible for a booster, I encourage you to visit www.vaccines.gov to find a convenient location and time for your appointment. All boosters are free.

Public health leaders in the region encourage County residents to maintain vigilance in preventing the spread of disease this holiday season. Everyone is encouraged to take the following actions:

I’m glad to report the Audrey Moore RECenter Renovation and Expansion Survey will open Monday, November 29 until Friday, December 17. The Audrey Moore Rec Center is the oldest recreation center in the County and many of the systems have been extended beyond their useful life.

We need your feedback to ensure that a renovated Audrey Moore Recenter meets the needs of the community for years to come. Interested in helping? Provide your feedback by taking the survey. Residents will find the survey on November 29 by visiting the Renovation and Expansion project website. I’ll also share the survey on my social media on Monday and in the December edition of the Braddock Beacon newsletter.

We are two weeks away from the return of our annual Best of Braddock Awards ceremony. On Wednesday, December 8 at 7:00 p.m., individuals and groups will be recognized for their extraordinary contributions to the Braddock District. A selection committee of Braddock residents has been formed and will select the award winners. Winners will be selected for the following categories:

Given the incredible demonstrations of community spirit and service we've seen during the pandemic, it's more important than ever that we come together to recognize individuals and organizations who have put in the work to make their neighborhood or broader community a great place to live.

I hope you'll mark your calendar and join us!

Supervisor James Walkinshaw

Social isolation and loneliness (SIL) are significant risk factors for a number of behavioral and physical health issues across the lifespan. So how do individuals promote social engagement and connectedness in order to prevent social isolation and loneliness in the first place?

One way is to join the Partnership for a Healthier Fairfax for an overview of SIL and a discussion on how policy, systems, and environmental changes can help promote a more socially connected Fairfax County. A keynote presentation from Healthy Places by Design, a Fairfax-focused panel discussion, and the sharing of new tools and resources will all be part of the event. Register for the free event today.

Questions? Contact Susan Sanow, Partnership for a Healthier Fairfax Coordinator at susan.sanow@fairfaxcounty.gov.

The Made in Fairfax network aims to be a one-stop shop for maker businesses and those who want to support them. The Made in Fairfax directory features dozens of artisans who create a variety of products in the county like custom furniture, baked goods, jewelry, and more.

This holiday season take “shop local” to new heights by directly supporting the makers of these gift-worthy products – created right here in Fairfax County, Virginia.

Shop local this holiday season using the Made in Fairfax Gift Guide today.

Join Springfield District Representative Laura Jane Cohen and Braddock School Board Member Megan McLaughlin for a virtual town hall on Tuesday, November 30, from 7:00 p.m. through 8:30 p.m. They look forward to answering questions on a variety of topics, including the Return to School, Student and Employee Well-Being, the Fiscal Forecast, and next year’s School Calendar.

They are soliciting questions and comments from the community regardless if you can attend. You will also be able to submit questions during the town hall.

The town hall will be open so that you may join at any time during the given window. Their goal for this town hall is to answer your questions and hear your concerns.

Join the virtual town hall using this meeting link.

Metro customers can expect to see reduced rail service levels through December 31, Metro announced on Monday, November 22.

With no timeline established to return the 7000-series fleet in the interest of safety, and 6000-series railcars awaiting parts due to global supply chain challenges, incremental service improvements will be made during December as parts arrive for older model railcars.

Nearly 75 percent of Metrorail stations have trains arriving at least every 10-12 minutes, as many stations are served by multiple lines. More frequent service depends upon available railcars meeting safety standards, while Metro continues to test new inspection protocols for its newest 7000-series railcars, which were sidelined in October.

Lear more by visiting Metro's website.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a public hearing on December 7 to consider expanding the real estate tax relief program for seniors and people with disabilities.

If approved, the expanded program would raise the income/net worth threshold levels, add a new 75% tax relief bracket, and offer a new option to defer property tax payments. Increasing the net worth threshold will allow more retirees with 401ks and other retirement accounts to participate in the relief program. The senior tax relief program was last updated in 2006.

These changes would be adopted in two phases during the next two years if approved in December.

Would you like to testify during the hearing? Visit Fairfax County’s website and sign up now. Learn more about this program by visiting Fairfax County’s News Center.

CECAP is the County's roadmap to carbon neutrality by 2050. As it is a plan for the entire community, it contains a variety of suggested routes to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. From actions that can be taken by individuals, to those that will require legislative change in Richmond or at the federal level, it is a comprehensive document that showcases a wide breadth of approaches to help reach the County's goal.

As with any major goal, it’s important to recognize the component parts and milestones that will make progress possible and allow everyone to celebrate achievement along the way. Fairfax County has an ambitious goal for 2050, but they also have interim goals and sector-specific goals to help us get there.

The CECAP Working Group made a conscious decision to define two interim target year goals for our community. They aim to achieve a 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. They also want to achieve a 75 percent reduction in emissions by 2040. Achieving these goals will help us to know that Fairfax County is on track to achieve overarching goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

Learn more about CECAP and its goals by visiting the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination's website.