September 9, 2020

Dear Neighbor,

Yesterday was the first day of a 2020-2021 school year that will be like no other. While I know that the all-virtual start to the year is not what anyone wanted, I also know that our amazing students, families, teachers, and support staff will make the best of the situation.

We have a few key updates in today's Advisory. Most urgently, I want to remind you of tomorrow night's virtual community meeting to discuss the Long Branch Stream Valley trail maintenance project. We will also have an update to share with the community regarding the Smokewood Park Bridge that had to be removed due to structural issues earlier this year.

As promised, we are working to keep you informed regarding any changes to the voting process for the upcoming election. Recently, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation allowing the use of ballot drop boxes. In Fairfax County, voters will be able to drop off completed ballots to the Office of Elections or at a satellite voting location during the dates and times that those locations are open. We've also included information regarding additional items that will be on your ballot, including an amendment to the Virginia Constitution and four bond questions.

Continue reading for more information on:

  • Long Branch Stream Valley Trail and Smokewood Bridge Meeting
  • Upcoming Election Information
  • Stuff the Bus Food Drive Returns
  • County Deer Management Program Update
  • CECAP Climate Planning Survey
Supervisor James Walkinshaw

P.S. Forward this message to your neighbors in Braddock District! Residents can click here or email braddock@fairfaxcounty.gov to subscribe to the monthly Braddock Beacon newsletter and Advisories like this.
Long Branch Stream Valley Park and Smokewood Bridge Project Public Meeting
The Fairfax County Park Authority will hold a virtual information meeting regarding the proposed Long Branch Stream Valley Trail Maintenance project and the status of the Smokewood Bridge, tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to provide information regarding the trail project, the Smokewood Park Bridge, hear community input, and answer questions.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this will be held as a virtual meeting using Zoom and can be accessed with the password LBSVTP!910; or you may listen in by calling (602) 333-0032 and entering access code 719976. Speakers are asked to sign up in advance via Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov or may pose written questions via the Zoom chat feature during the meeting. Speakers are limited to three minutes each.

We hope that you will share this information with others who may be interested in your community. For more information regarding this meeting contact the Public Information Office at (703) 324-8662 or via email at Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.
COVID-19 Update
Please continue to follow social distancing guidelines and facemask regulations as we fight to lower COVID-19 cases.

While we must continue to strive to lower new cases, COVID-19 isn’t just about paying attention to the numbers. Here are four critical actions you can continue to keep up in order keep our positive case numbers down:

  1. Stay home when you’re sick (even the sniffles!) or if you test positive for COVID-19.
  2. Practice social distancing – stay six feet apart.
  3. Wash your hands frequently.
  4. Wear cloth face coverings.

Below is a snapshot of today's COVID-19 updates.
Upcoming Election Information
General Information

  • September 18: Absentee in-person/early voting begins at the Office of Elections, 12000 Government Center Pkwy., Fairfax, VA Ballots will be available beginning September 18, 2020. All absentee applications and voter registration forms must be approved and will be processed in the order of receipt.

  • October 12: Office of Elections/Absentee Voting Closed for Columbus Day

  • October 13: Voter Registration Deadline. In-person: 5:00 p.m., online: 11:59 p.m.


  • October 23: Deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail, 5:00 p.m.

  • October 31: Final day for absentee in-person/early voting, 5:00 p.m.

Returned Ballots:

  • November 3: Deadline to hand deliver absentee ballots to Office of Elections is 7:00 p.m.

  • November 6: Deadline for mailed absentee ballots to be received by Office of Elections is 12 p.m. (noon). Ballots must be postmarked no later than November 3.

Returning an Absentee Ballot
The Virginia General Assembly has approved the use of drop boxes at precincts and satellite locations as well as the Office of the General Registrar (Office of Elections).

During the dates and times that the Office of Elections is open, voters can return their ballot to the Office of Elections. During the dates and times that the satellite locations are open for absentee person/early voting, voters can return their ballot to the satellite locations. On Election Day, November 3, from 6:00 am – 7:00 pm, voters can return their ballot to any precinct.

Important Notice
Only when the Office of Elections or absentee in person/early voting satellite locations are open can a voter return their ballot to those locations’ drop box.

For information on the Virginia Constitutional amendment 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

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?

Bond Ballot Question
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:

Shall Fairfax County, Virginia, contract a debt, borrow money, and issue bonds in addition to the public library facilities bonds previously authorized, in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $90,000,000 for the purpose of providing funds, with any other available funds, to finance the cost to provide public library facilities, including the construction, reconstruction, enlargement, and equipment of existing and additional library facilities and the acquisition of necessary land?

2) Parks
Shall Fairfax County, Virginia, contract a debt, borrow money, and issue bonds, in addition to the parks and park facilities bonds previously authorized, in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $112,000,000 for the following purposes: (i) $100,000,000 principal amount to finance the Fairfax County Park Authority's cost to acquire, construct, reconstruct, develop, and equip additional parks and park facilities, to preserve open-space land, and to devebelop and improve existing parks and park facilities; and (ii) $12,000,000 principal amount to finance Fairfax County's contribution to the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority to acquire, construct, reconstruct, develop, and equip parks and park facilities?

Shall Fairfax County, Virginia, contract a debt, borrow money, and issue bonds, in addition to the transportation improvements and facilities bonds previously authorized, in the Maximum aggregate principal amount of $160,000,000 for the purpose of financing Fairfax County's share, under the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Compact, of the cost of constructing, reconstructing, improving, and acquiring transportation improvements and facilities, including capital costs of land, transit facilities, rolling stock, and equipment in the Washington metropolitan area?

Shall Fairfax County, Virginia, contract a debt, borrow money, and issue bonds, in addition to the human services facilities bonds previously authorized, in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $79,000,000 for the purpose of providing funds, with any other available funds, to finance the cost to provide community health and human services facilities, including the construction, reconstruction, enlargement, and equipment of existing and additional community health and human services facilities and the acquisition of necessary land?
Stuff the Bus Food Drive Returns
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a dramatic rise in the demand for food from area nonprofits. To help meet this demand, the frequency of Stuff the Bus food drives is increasing. In May, drives were held on two days at 21 locations throughout the county and the response was immense, with 33.6 tons of food collected for area nonprofits.

On Saturday, September 12 and 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 the Braddock District office at 9002 Burke Lake Road Burke, VA 22015, the Government Center at 12000 Government Center Pkwy, Fairfax, VA 22035, and Oaks Community Center at 5708 Oak Leather Dr. Burke, VA.

For more information, including donation sites, a list of most-wanted items and information about donating virtually, visit the Stuff the Bus website.
County Deer Management Program
The Fairfax County Deer Management Archery Program begins Saturday, September 12, 2020 and runs through Saturday, February 20, 2021.

Under the oversight of the Fairfax County Police Department, in collaboration with the Fairfax County Park Authority and NOVA Parks, the archery program is conducted in parks and other locations throughout Fairfax County.

Last year, 868 deer were harvested through the use of archery by hunters in the county program. The archery program accounted for 88% of the total deer harvests in the Fairfax County Deer Management Program.

Fairfax County’s Archery Program standards require that all archers meet state hunter licensing, education and safety requirements and must pass qualifications to demonstrate skill and marksmanship, in addition to carrying program identification.

Learn more about the archery program.
There's Still Time to Take The Climate Planning Survey
Throughout the last two weeks, Fairfax County held three virtual public meetings to gather input and feedback on climate mitigation as part of the Community-Wide Energy and Climate Action Plan initiative.

While the community meetings have taken place, you can still provide important feedback by taking a community survey. The survey will remain open until September 13. Your input is very important because this will help determine how we move forward as a community to address the role we play in global climate change.

Take the CECAP public survey to share your opinions and suggestions. Your input will be considered by the CECAP Task Force as they make decisions about climate change mitigation goals, strategies, and actions we can take in the years to come. If you would like to learn more, visit the county’s climate planning and action web page or the new climate and energy Facebook page.
Upcoming Outdoor Flu Clinics
Need your flu shot? The Safeway store located at 5727 Burke Centre Parkway will be holding an outdoor flu clinic in their parking lot on September 25 from 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., and October 17 from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (weather permitting).

The Twinbrook Safeway at 9525 Braddock Road, Firfax, 22032, will also host an outdoor clinic on October 9 from 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. They will have the regular flu shot and the 65+ flu shot available.
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