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1.23.25
Dear Neighbor,
The Lunar New Year begins next Wednesday, January 29, and 2025 is the Year of the Snake!
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There are several celebrations in Fairfax County to ring in the new year that will serpent-ly be fun for the whole family!
The Asian Community Service Center is hosting a Chinese New Year Festival on Saturday, January 25, at Luther Jackson Middle School (3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church) from 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. There will be local vendors, activities, dancing, musical performances, and a parade.
Three regional libraries will host lion dance performances to bring good luck for the New Year on Sunday, January 26. The dances will be performed by students from the Jow Ga Shaolin Institute in Herndon! Register to attend:
Fairfax County Park Authority will host a Lunar New Year Celebration at the Twin Lakes Golf Course (6201 Union Mill Road, Clifton) on Saturday, February 8, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. with live performances, food, and activities for all. Registration is required for this free event.
Big Beam Weekend
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The Virginia Department of Transportation's (VDOT's) "Big Beam Weekend" is scheduled to begin tomorrow night, January 24, and run through early Monday morning, January 27. Northbound I-495 will be reduced from six lanes to two lanes for a one-mile stretch near Tysons.
Typically, this kind of planned construction occurs during nighttime hours or non-peak travel times to limit impacts to the traveling public. However, due to the magnitude of the Big Beam operation – the largest girders to be installed on the 495 NEXT project – an extended work period is necessary for the safety of travelers and workers alike.
The two open lanes will function as non-tolled, general-purpose lanes and be open to all traffic. Motorists should stay alert to lane reductions and traffic shifts that will be in place for approximately three miles from the Route 7 interchange until just past Lewinsville Road (north of Route 267).
You can read more about the full scope of work for this weekend on VDOT's website. To plan ahead and stay informed about the Big Beam Weekend, affected travelers should check VA 511 online at 511.vdot.virginia.gov, on the 511 mobile app (available on Google Play or the App Store), or by calling 5-1-1 from any phone in Virginia. Travelers are also encouraged to sign up for email alerts at 495next.vdot.virginia.gov.
Monarch Pledge
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At last week's Board meeting, I presented a Board Matter to authorize Fairfax County’s enrollment in the National Wildlife Federation's "Mayors' Monarch Pledge."
This program was brought to my attention by students at Terra Centre Elementary School who recently planted a monarch butterfly garden at their school and have become experts on the monarch. I’m happy to report that Fairfax County is a leader in creating pollinator habitats and has already committed to many of the actions required by the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge Program. By joining more than 600 mayors and heads of local government, Fairfax County shows its commitment to building upon its multi-year effort to support pollinator and monarch habitat on County, park, and school properties.
The Mayors’ Monarch Pledge program was launched in 2015 to engage cities and communities in monarch and pollinator conservation. You can learn more about the County’s actions by watching the Board Matter presentation.
Thank you to the Terra Centre students for educating me on the importance of the Monarch and for encouraging Fairfax County to take this step!
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Supervisor James R. Walkinshaw | |
Please share this newsletter with your friends and neighbors. If this email was forwarded to you, consider subscribing to receive Braddock District news and updates. | |
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Continue reading below for more information on:
- Dog Licenses Due January 31
- Save the Dates for Camp Registration
- SSPA Process Launched
- Submit Comments on the Royal Lake Trail Project
- Board Authorizes Consideration of a Plan Amendment to Implement Route 29 Corridor Recommendations
- Access Services Library
- Avoid QR Code Scams
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Dog Licenses Due January 31 | |
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All dogs four months of age or older must be licensed. Licenses must be purchased annually and are only good through December 31 of the calendar year in which they are issued. Dog owners who previously purchased license tags automatically receive a renewal notice by mail in November with a due date of January 31.
Fairfax County has partnered with PetData, Inc. to provide dog licensing services for the county. For all licensing questions, contact PetData directly on their website or by phone at 1 (888) 556-2906.
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Save the Dates for Camp Registration | |
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Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) has taken steps to improve the camp registration process based on community feedback. This year, camp registration times will begin on two separate dates, based on your selected camp location.
Camp classes located in the eastern region of Fairfax County are designated as Team Green Camp, and will start registration on February 4. Classes taking place in the western region of the County, Team Blue Camp, will begin registration on February 6. Visit the Park Authority Camp Registration page to search camp locations and listings and find tips to prepare for registration day.
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Fairfax County’s next round of the Site Specific Plan Amendment (SSPA) process kicked off on January 13.
SSPA is the County’s process for giving the public a way to propose a land use change, known as a “nomination,” in the Comprehensive Plan for a single site or collection of sites.
The Comprehensive Plan guides the County's land use and development decisions and sets forth the community’s future vision. The nomination period will run until February 13, and nominations will be accepted online through PLUS, the County’s Planning and Land Use System. Read more about the SSPA on the County's website.
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Submit Comments on the Royal
Lake Trail Project
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The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is nearing the completion of the design and permitting process for several trail improvements at Royal Lake in the Braddock District. As part of the process, the Park Authority has posted the environmental documentation for a Categorical Exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act, which is required to initiate the project. The documentation is available on the Royal Lake Trail Project webpage for public review, and comments will be accepted until January 27.
FCPA has worked closely with the Royal Lake community to develop the project scope and acquire the necessary funding to initiate five trail improvement projects surrounding Royal Lake, including:
- Royal Lake Bridge Replacement: Replacement of the pedestrian bridge over Rabbit Branch on the north side of Royal Lake.
- Royal Lake to Commonwealth Boulevard Trail: Construction of a new stream valley trail connecting an existing asphalt trail north of Lakeside Park to Commonwealth Boulevard.
- Richardson Court to Lakeside Park Trail: Repaving the park entrance trail from Richardson Drive to the soccer and baseball fields at Lakeside Park.
- Royal Lake Dam to Lakepointe Drive Trail: Paving of the natural surface trail linking the asphalt trail on top of the dam to the Royal Lake Loop Trail.
- Lakeside Park Shade Structure: Installation of a fabric shade structure and updated picnic equipment near the playground. This segment of the project is currently underway and is funded separately through local funds (not federally funded).
Comments can be submitted online or mailed to:
Fairfax County Park Authority
ATTN: Elizabeth Iannetta, Park Development Division
12055 Government Center Parkway
Suite 421
Fairfax, VA 22035
For more information about this project please call (703) 324-8725, email royal-lake@publicinput.com, or visit FCPA's website.
Friends of Royal Lake had requested a set of trail improvements back in 2019. Supervisor Walkinshaw asked then-Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn in 2021 to prioritize these in the upcoming budget. This resulted in a budget amendment providing $1,000,000 to Fairfax County for trail system connections at Lake Royal Park.
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Board Authorizes Consideration of a Plan Amendment to Implement Route 29 Corridor Recommendations | |
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On December 3, Supervisor Walkinshaw’s motion to endorse the findings and recommendations of the Route 29 Corridor Study and direct staff to consider a Comprehensive Plan amendment for the segment of Route 29 from Jermantown Road to Buckleys Gate Drive/Summit Drive was approved by the Board of Supervisors.
The Board authorized the Route 29 Corridor Study in October 2021. The study area spans approximately 2.9 miles, from Jermantown Road/Rust Road at the City of Fairfax line to Buckleys Gate Drive/Summit Drive near the Fairfax County Parkway (VA 286). The purpose of the study was to reassess the recommendations in the Comprehensive Plan, which currently include three grade-separated interchanges at Legato Road, Monument Drive, and Waples Mill Road/Shirley Gate Road, and evaluate active transportation facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians. The study took into consideration the long-term needs of the corridor and explored multimodal, context-sensitive solutions that serve all users and modes of transportation.
Specifically, the study evaluated at-grade intersection improvements along the Route 29 corridor that would allow for removal of the three planned grade-separated interchanges from the Comprehensive Plan. This would create a multimodal, context-sensitive place that provides a safer and more walkable environment consistent with what the community envisions for this area. The study found that at-grade solutions at intersections, including signal timing and turn lane improvements, would improve the flow of traffic throughout the corridor and be significantly less impactful to the community -- and less expensive -- than grade-separated highway-style interchanges. To create a balanced set of recommendations for all users, the study also factored in pedestrian and bicyclist comfort and safety improvements along the corridor, including the use of existing service drives for bicycling where vehicular volumes and speeds will be low.
More than 350 people participated in the two public meetings and two surveys conducted during 2024 to gather thoughts and comments from users of the Route 29 corridor. Those who took part included residents, representatives of homeowner associations and civic associations, and businesses that are proximate to the corridor. The suggested improvements have taken into consideration this feedback, which emphasized the need for continuous and safe sidewalks and shared-use paths for pedestrians and bicyclists and support for more context-sensitive, at-grade solutions in place of the interchanges.
Fairfax County Department of Transportation staff is currently working to develop specific language to incorporate these transportation recommendations into the Comprehensive Plan. Look for more information this spring.
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The Access Services Library is part of the Fairfax County Public Library system and situated on the first floor of the Fairfax County Government Center. It offers two primary services to residents of Fairfax County who either cannot physically visit the library or cannot read a book due to a disability.
Individuals unable to read or use standard print materials due to permanent or temporary blindness, visual impairment, or physical limitations may qualify for the Talking Book Service. Offered through an affiliation with the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, a division of the Library of Congress, staff will mail digital audiobooks, magazines, and braille materials to participants. For patrons who enjoy using mobile devices, they can also use the free BARD Mobile app to access digital audiobooks.
The second service is Home Delivery, which provides materials owned by Fairfax County Public Library via the United States Postal Office. To qualify, a Fairfax County resident must have a permanent or temporary disability or physical limitation that prevents them from visiting their local branch. People who prefer to read eBooks or listen to eAudiobooks can still qualify for a library card through our Home Delivery service and access the Libby app.
For more information about services, please call the Access Services Library at (703) 324-8380 or email libas@fairfaxcounty.gov. You can also visit the Aging and Disability page on the Access Services' website to learn more about each service and apply online.
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The Quick Response code, or QR code, has become a way of life in society. However, this has made it tempting for criminals to create some QR Codes of their own. You've probably seen them at gas stations, restaurants, paying for public parking, etc., and scammers are finding easy ways to hide harmful links in QR codes.
Ways to Protect Yourself:
- If you see a QR code in an unexpected place, inspect the URL before you open it.
- Don’t scan a QR code in an email or text message you weren’t expecting, especially if it urges you to act quickly.
- Verify the source of the QR code. If in doubt, go to the official website of the company or government agency “sending” you the QR code.
- Protect your phone and accounts with updated software, strong passwords and multifactor authentication.
- Install a QR scanner with added security.
- Be wary of any site that asks for personal information, login credentials or payment.
What to Do When Scammed
If you believe you have been targeted by a quishing (QR Code phishing) scam, contact the police non-emergency number at 703-691-2131. Then, file a report using the Financial Crimes Information and Online Reporting System (FiCOR). Report a Scam with FiCOR.
Read more about how this scam works and how to protect yourself.
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