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5.22.25
Dear Neighbor,
Our community mourns the loss of a singular leader, the Connolly family mourns the loss of a devoted husband and father, and I mourn the loss of a dear friend.
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Congressman Gerry Connolly was more than a public servant — he was a singular figure and force for good in our community, in the Commonwealth, and across the country. From his days on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to his leadership in Congress and on the world stage, he brought unmatched intellect, integrity, and energy to every challenge he faced.
His legacy is etched into every corner of our community — from the Oakton Library and the Mosaic District to the Silver Line and the Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail. He fought tirelessly for people and communities who most needed a voice: the unhoused, the impoverished, and those suffering from illness or addiction.
But for me, Gerry Connolly was a mentor, a friend, and one of the most formative figures in my life. Because of him, I am a better husband, father, and public servant. I will carry his wisdom — and his fierce love for this community — with me for the rest of my life.
We’ve lost a giant. But we will honor his legacy by continuing the work he loved — serving others, speaking the truth, and never backing down from the defense of our values.
| | 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. | | |
Continue reading below for more information on:
- GMU West Campus Town Hall Meeting Tonight
- Thank You for Attending Braddock Bark 🐾
- Graduation Traffic Advisory Alert
- Reduced Fee Vaccine & Microchip Clinic
- Braddock Road Project Meeting
- VDOT I-495 Southside Express Lanes Study Meetings
- FCPS Athletic Programs Seeking Medical Professionals
- Healthy Together Fairfax
- Early Voting for June 17 Democratic Primary Elections
- Proposed Change to Waste Collection
- Fairfax County Climate Action Progress
- MetroPulse
- Resources for Federal Employees and Contractors
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GMU West Campus
Town Hall Meeting Tonight
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George Mason University (GMU) will hold a Town Hall meeting tonight, Thursday, May 22, to continue the conversation regarding their ongoing development planning for the western portion of their Fairfax campus.
The Town Hall will be held from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Fairfax City Hall (10455 Armstrong Street, Fairfax).
The Town Hall is an opportunity for students and the community to provide input and feedback on proposed uses and concepts for development. GMU has stated they are targeting three key development categories: placemaking, athletics, and housing.
GMU has also provided a form for submitting written public comments.
For more information, visit GMU’s West Campus Planning webpage.
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Thank You for Attending
Braddock Bark 🐾
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Our 4th Annual Braddock Bark festival was a huge success, with over 500 attendees.
Seven rescue pups were officially adopted, and many more applications to adopt were submitted!
Thank you to the Fairfax County Community Emergency Response Team for their help directing traffic at the event and the 47 volunteers who helped the event run smoothly. Special thanks to Embrace Home Loans for providing volunteers to help with set-up. We also appreciate all of our community partners, rescue organizations, and small businesses for coming out, including:
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- A Forever Home Rescue
- Annandale Volunteer Fire Department
- Becky's Pet Care
- Bella’s Blissful Keepsakes
- Bobbie's Pit Bull Rescue
- CK Pawtique
- Colonial Animal Hospital
- Department of Emergency Management & Security
- Fairfax County Animal Shelter
- Fairfax County Police Department's K-9 Unit
- FLAP
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- Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter
- Miss Boujee Paws
- Mutt Love Rescue
- Paw Mind Body, LLC
- Pet Evolution
- PuppyK LLC
- Salty Paws Nova
- Springfield Animal Hospital - Vetcor
- TAHA Food Truck
- TAHA Ice Cream Truck
- The Dog Stop
- Veterinary Holistic Center
- Washington Capitals
- Whiskers, Paws and Love Inc.
| | As part of the event, we were able to help raise nearly $1,400 for the Friends of Fairfax County Animal Shelter! Embrace Home Loans donated $1,000, our vendors donated $173, and just over $226 in direct donations were contributed. | | Graduation Traffic Advisory Alert | | |
It's that time of the year, graduations are here!
George Mason University's EagleBank Arena will begin hosting high school graduation ceremonies at various times of the day beginning Tuesday, May 27, until Monday, June 16.
Doors open at least one hour before ceremonies begin, and traffic will vary, depending on the day.
Subscribe to Mason Alerts or Fairfax Alerts for up-to-date details on high-impact areas and alternative routes. View the FCPS graduation page for more information.
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Reduced Fee Vaccine
& Microchip Clinic
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As part of Fairfax County Animal Shelter's (FCAS) Pet Resource Center, Fairfax County residents have an opportunity to vaccinate and microchip their pets without the cost of a veterinary exam.
All clinics are first-come, first-served and are cash-only. The Animal Shelter has an upcoming clinic on Friday, May 23, from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. at the Lorton Campus (8875 Lorton Road, Lorton)
For more information on upcoming dates or details, visit the FCAS website.
| | Braddock Road Project Meeting | | |
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has announced that they will hold an in-person Design Public Hearing on the Braddock Road Multimodal Improvements Project on Monday, June 2, beginning at 6:30 p.m. (presentation will begin at 7:00 p.m.) in the cafeteria at Lake Braddock Secondary School (9200 Burke Lake Road, Burke—use Entrance #15).
This project proposes to construct multimodal and access management improvements along three miles of Braddock Road (Route 620) between Humphries Drive in Burke and Ravensworth Road (Route 2864) in Annandale, including the eastbound and westbound Braddock Road ramps to southbound I-495 (Capital Beltway Outer Loop), and half a mile of Ravensworth Road between Braddock Road and Heritage Drive. The proposed improvements aim to improve multimodal safety, mobility, and accessibility for all users with intersection enhancements, including at Rolling Road, Wakefield Chapel Road/Danbury Forest Drive, and Burke Lake Road. The improvements also include new and upgraded shared-use paths along both sides of Braddock Road. This project will involve changes in limited access control.
The public hearing will provide an opportunity for residents and organizations to learn about the project, ask questions, and provide comments on the proposal. You may review project information on the project webpage, at the meeting, or during business hours (between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.) at VDOT’s Northern Virginia District Office (4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax).
Hard copies of the plans are available for the public to view at VDOT’s Northern Virginia District Office. To make an appointment, please contact the project manager, Calvin Britt, at william.britt@vdot.virginia.gov or Northern Virginia District Assistant Location & Design Engineer, Yuliya Esmond at Yuliya.Esmond@vdot.virginia.gov. Plans are also available to view by appointment at Supervisor Walkinshaw’s office (9002 Burke Lake Road, Burke). Please email braddock@fairfaxcounty.gov or call (703) 425-9300.
In addition, VDOT has posted a voiceover presentation outlining changes to access for Rolling Road between Braddock Road and Burke Lake Road. Currently, much of this section of Rolling Road allows all movements at every intersection. The proposed access management will include a raised median for most of the block, with one full median crossover retained immediately south of the service station. This has been recommended to improve safety along this stretch of roadway.
| | VDOT I-495 Southside Express Lanes Study Meetings | | |
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will hold in-person public hearings to present the recommended preferred alternative for the I-495 Southside Express Lanes Study.
The public hearings are scheduled for:
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Monday, June 2 at Thomas A. Edison High School (5801 Franconia Road, Alexandria)
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Wednesday, June 4 at Oxon Hill High School (6701 Leyte Drive, Forest Heights, MD)
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Monday, June 9 at West Potomac High School (6500 Quander Road, Alexandria)
- Wednesday, June 11 at Nannie J. Lee Memorial Recreation Center (1108 Jefferson Street, Alexandria)
All meetings will have an open house starting at 6:00 p.m. with a presentation at 6:30 p.m. and a formal public comment session.
Public hearing materials will be available starting May 19 on VDOT's virtual public information room.
Contact Michelle Holland, VDOT Communications Manager of Northern Virginia Megaprojects, at (703) 586-0487 with any questions or additional information.
| | FCPS Athletic Programs Seeking Medical Professionals | | |
Lake Braddock Secondary School is organizing its Annual Sports Physical Night fundraising event in coordination with West Springfield High School and South County High School and needs volunteer Medical Professionals to sign off on athletes’ participation status for the 2025-2026 school year.
This event is a great way for the Athletic Training Program to support the needs of student-athletes! It will be held on Tuesday, June 3, at Lake Braddock Secondary School (9200 Burke Lake Road, Burke).
If you or someone you know is an MD/DO/NP/PA, sign up today to volunteer.
Questions? Contact South County High School Athletic Trainer Rachel Hurlburt at rlhurlburg@fcps.edu or (571) 425-8029.
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The Partnership for a Healthier Fairfax and the Fairfax County Park Authority invite you to Healthy Together Fairfax, a lively, interactive event dedicated to promoting healthy and active lifestyles.
Rain or shine, the event will take place on Sunday, June 8, from 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. at Franconia Park (6601 Telegraph Road, Alexandria).
This FREE event is perfect for families and offers a variety of activities for all ages! Enjoy health screenings, access to community services and resources, Story Space with V.I.P. readers, fitness classes, and hands-on learning experiences.
Explore the trails and playgrounds at Franconia Park, take a ride on the carousel, and dive into our four exciting wellness tracks: Physical, Environmental, Social, and Emotional. Each track is packed with engaging activities and organizations that will inspire and motivate you towards a healthier lifestyle!
For more details, visit Healthy Together Fairfax's website.
| | Early Voting for June 17 Democratic Primary Elections | | Early voting for the June 17 Primary Election is underway! Early voting is available at three locations until Saturday, June 14: | | |
Fairfax County Government Center
- 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax
- Weekday hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
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Mt. Vernon Governmental Center
- 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria
- Weekday hours: 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
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North County Governmental Center
- 1801 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston
- Weekday hours: 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
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Beginning Saturday, June 8, an additional 13 early voting locations will open across the County, including at Burke Centre Library (5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke) and the West Springfield Governmental Center (6140 Rolling Road, Springfield).
You can find all the locations, operating hours, and detailed information on Saturday voting on the Office of Elections’ website. Find a list of qualified candidates here.
Register to vote or change address/name by Tuesday, May 27, or apply for an absentee (by mail) ballot by Friday, June 6.
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Proposed Change to
Waste Collection
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Fairfax County is considering the establishment of a new solid waste collection system for single family homes through Unified Sanitation Districts (USD). The County seeks to provide clarity on the substance and the status of the proposal. Detailed information is available on the Solid Waste Management website. No decision has been made, but to even consider making improvements to trash collection, the County is required by Virginia law to invoke a 5-year waiting period.
An initial analysis suggests that the USD model could result in significant savings for the average resident, while maintaining comparable service levels, and significantly reducing truck traffic. A 2024 survey of 5000 County residents found that 53% of residents supported the consideration of a USD model, with only 18% opposed. The same survey found that residents could save an average of 25% on waste collection charges because of the more efficient routes enabled by the USD model.
As already noted, Virginia law requires local governments like Fairfax County to undergo a five-year waiting period before making a change to the solid waste collection model. At the upcoming public hearing on June 24 at the Fairfax County Government Center in the Board Auditorium, the Board of Supervisors will consider whether the County should begin that waiting period for waste collection. If the decision is made in the affirmative, then the County will conduct more detailed analyses and collect additional community input on ways to improve solid waste collection for single-family homes. The approval of the waiting period does not necessarily mean the County will implement the USD model.
Your feedback is important as the Board considers the best path forward. Residents are encouraged to check out the FAQs, and submit comments directly to USDfeedback@publicinput.com. All comments will be reviewed and shared with the Board before the public hearing.
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Fairfax County Climate
Action Progress
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At the Board of Supervisors’ Environmental Committee meeting of May 20, the County’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC) reported on progress made on the implementation of the Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan (CECAP), and the Resilient Fairfax Plan.
Some of the many noteworthy areas of progress include:
- Zero Waste Goals
- Between 2018 and 2023, County facilities reduced the amount of waste generated by 38%. This surpassed the CECAP goal of achieving a 25% reduction!
- EV & Plug-In Hybrid Auto Registrations
- Since 2024, the registration of EVs & Plug-in Hybrids tripled from 1% to 3% of all cars registered in the County. The goal is to achieve 15% of all car registrations by 2030.
- The Charge Up Fairfax Program
- Fourteen multi-family associations have been accepted into the grant program for community EV charger installations.
- Solar Energy
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The number of installed solar energy systems in Fairfax County increased to 4,753 in 2023, up from 3,618 in 2022. This is due in part to Fairfax County’s participation in the Solarize Virginia and Solar Switch campaigns. If this trend continues, the County will meet its goal of achieving 46 Mw of solar capacity before the planned 2030 deadline!
- Increased Participation in the Sustain Fairfax Challenge
- OEEC recently launched the Sustain Fairfax Challenge, a climate action tracking platform for residents. The application allows individuals and communities to track dozens of practical actions they can take to save energy and reduce their environmental impact.
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Join the Sustain Fairfax Challenge to see how your actions and those of your community compare!
To learn more about what the County is doing to reduce energy costs, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and protect County residents and infrastructure from the impacts of more extreme weather, please view the video of the Board of Supervisors May 20 Environmental Committee meeting. You may also find details on the County’s Climate Action website.
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Recently, Metro launched MetroPulse, a new mobile app that allows customers to plan trips, chat with customer service, report issues on the system, and more.
Features include:
- Real-time bus and train location and arrival information
- Trip planner
- Nearby service tool
- Metro customer service chat
- Ability to report issues on the system
- Performance metrics for rail and bus
- Bus and rail maps
MetroPulse is now available in the Apple App Store. It will be in the Google Play Store in the coming days.
MetroPulse initially launched as a website back in June 2023 and the app brings many of the features to customers in a more accessible way. A new chat feature brings a transit-industry-leading live chat experience where customers can send photos and videos directly to customer service to have safety and security concerns addressed. MetroPulse also includes transparent data about how the Metro system is performing.
“We are striving to take the guesswork out of transit and streamline as much as possible so more people will choose our trains and buses over other forms of travel,” said Metro General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke. “MetroPulse puts the real-time information customers need right in their pockets in a native app that is easy to use and navigate.”
This app release marks the first iteration of MetroPulse mobile, but the app will continue to improve over time.
Learn more about MetroPulse and read an FAQ on WMATA's website.
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Resources for Federal
Employees and Contractors
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Fairfax County Resource and Service Website
Thousands of County residents and their families will likely be affected by the federal government’s plan to significantly downsize the federal workforce and budget. The County has a variety of resources and services that can help former federal employees, contractors, and anyone else affected by job loss.
Federal Representatives
Each member of Fairfax County's Congressional Delegation has provided access to resources, including the opportunity for federal employees to anonymously report abuses of power, review employment rights/civil service law, and understand whistleblower protections. If you or someone you know is a federal employee, review and share these resources, and subscribe to your federal representatives’ newsletters to stay informed.
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Senator Mark Warner
Senator Tim Kaine
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Congressman Don Beyer
Congressman Gerry Connolly
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