Dear Neighbor,

September 15-October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month, an opportunity to honor the historic and cultural achievements of Hispanic Americans. Hispanic residents make up 16.5% of Fairfax County's population and have made countless contributions to our community.

Looking for ways to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month? Visit Fairfax has pulled together a list of exciting opportunities.

Best of Braddock Awards

As we approach the end of 2022, it's time to once again nominate your neighbors and fellow Braddock residents who contribute to making our community a better place to live, work, and play. This year's Best of Braddock nominations can be submitted through this form. 

Those who have been recognized in the past include postal service carriers, crossing guards, volunteers with animal rescue groups, park volunteers, people helping with foster care, county staff working in Neighborhood and Community Services and Department of Public Works, as well as people who have shown kindness to their neighbors in need. I hope everyone will take a moment to consider a neighbor deserving of a Best of Braddock award!

Kings Park Library 50th Anniversary

This Saturday, October 15 at 11:00 a.m., the Kings Park Community Library will celebrate 50 years of service to our community. The celebration will include activities, games, and a special performance by the beloved Rocknoceros!

I'll be there to help commemorate this milestone and I hope to see you there!

The Celebration Begins: 11:00 a.m.

Rocknoceros Performance: 11:00 a.m.

Supervisor Walkinshaw and Others Speak: 1:30 p.m.

Refreshments and Prizes: 2:00 p.m.

Raffle Prize Drawing: 2:30 p.m.

Continue reading below for more information on:

• Parking on Guinea Road
• Burke Volunteer Fire and Rescue Member Wins Administrative Member of the Year Award
• Fire Prevention Week Open House
• Early Voting Underway
• DEA October Drug Takeback Day
• Fairfax Connector Service Changes
• AARP Senior Planet at the Wellness Center for Older Adults
• 2022 Martha Glennan Disability Inclusion and Equality Awards
• PLUS System Integration
• GMU Sports
• Public Health Information

Supervisor James Walkinshaw

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) recently evaluated the south side of Guinea Road from the shopping center entrance to Sandy Lewis Drive to determine if any parking restrictions were warranted based on current program practices. As a result of this review, No Parking signs were installed east and west of the marked crosswalk across Guinea Road at Zion Drive to assist in maintaining an open sight line for drivers and pedestrians, in addition to preventing drivers from parking within the flow line of a roadway drainage area. This No Parking Zone extends from approximately 100 feet west of the Zion Drive intersection eastward to the bowling alley entrance. A No Parking Zone is also being implemented on the east side of Sandy Lewis Drive for approximately 125 feet for crosswalk visibility as well.

Tonya McCreary (pictured center) receives the Administrative Member of the Year Award

Braddock Resident and Burke Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department (BVFRD) Member Tonya McCreary was recently honored as the Administrative Member of the Year at the Fairfax County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service Awards. At BVFRD, she brings her nonprofit management background to help benefit the department’s fundraising, crafting community fund drive letters twice a year and helping to secure corporate sponsorships for the station’s Fire Drill 5K race. After serving on the BVFRD Board of Directors as secretary, vice-president and president, she successfully ran twice for the Board of the Fairfax County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association, and is the volunteer system representative on the Fire Chief’s Equity and Inclusion Council. Working with a team to manage a grant from FEMA, Tonya helped create and produce video, radio and banner ads that have been running this year on local stations and digital outlets to help recruit more volunteer firefighters and EMTs to the cause. Tonya’s contributions help showcase how members can contribute to our emergency response mission without actually being a first responder. For more information on BVFRD, visit their website for upcoming events and how to volunteer. 

In celebration of Fire Prevention Week, all Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Stations will be hosting an Open House on Saturday, October 15 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Stop by your local station that day to meet your firefighters and paramedics, join in the activities, learn about fire safety, see the fire trucks and ambulances.  Find your local station.

Registration

Registering to vote is easy. The deadline to register or update your registration is October 17. Residents are welcome to come to the Braddock District office to complete a voter registration form in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, or Korean. Residents may also complete their voter registration online at the Department of Elections Registration website.

NEW- Same Day Registration

Beginning with the 2022 General Election, the General Assembly approved legislation that provides the ability to register to vote at any time, up to and including Election Day.

Same-day registration refers to the ability to register to vote in-person and immediately vote a provisional ballot.

Read more at the Department of Elections website.

Early Voting

In-person and mail-in early voting will continue through November 5, the Saturday before election day on November 8. For those voting by mail, please remember to mail your ballot at least one week before the date of the election. If you decide to vote early in-person, the following locations in and near the Braddock District are open to voters on the following dates and times:

September 23–November 5 at the Government Center

Weekdays 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Saturday (Only October 29, and November 5) 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Sunday (Only October 30) 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Fairfax County Government Center

12000 Government Center Pkwy

Conference Rooms 2/3, Fairfax 22035

October 27–November 5 at Satellite Locations

Weekdays 1:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Saturday (Only October 29 and November 5) 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Sunday (Only October 30) 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Burke Centre Library

5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke 22015

West Springfield Governmental Center

6140 Rolling Road, Springfield 22152

Mason Governmental Center        

6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale 22003

For a full list of all Fairfax County early voting sites, visit the Fairfax County Early Voting website.

Volunteer as a Poll Worker— Vietnamese and Korean Speakers Needed

The Fairfax County Office of Elections needs bilingual election officers to assist voters in the General Election on November 8 and in future elections. Specifically, individuals who speak Vietnamese and English fluently or Korean and English fluently are encouraged to serve in Annandale, Centreville, Chantilly, and Falls Church.

Officers will perform all regular election duties, including assisting voters in English, but will be assigned to precincts with a significant number of voters who may primarily speak Vietnamese or Korean. To serve as a designated bilingual election officer, you must also complete a short oral language skills assessment.

Fairfax County is the largest voting jurisdiction in Virginia with 264 precincts countywide. It takes thousands of enthusiastic and trained election officers to ensure that we have efficient and well-run elections. Compensation begins at $175, and training is provided online for new officers. To apply, visit the Vote4Fairfax website (be sure to indicate if you speak Vietnamese or Korean). Visit Working at the Polls for more information.

On October 29, the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) will sponsor its October National Drug Takeback event. Drug takeback programs are a safe method for disposing of prescription drugs and are organized and closely monitored by local, state, and federal government agencies.

Safe disposal of unused or expired medications prevents drug abuse and misuse, accidental poisoning, and protects the environment.

Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Drop off unused or expired medications at the locations listed below

(Accepted items: prescription and non-prescription pills, e-cigarettes and vaping devices with batteries removed, small liquid packs/pods for e-cigarettes and vaping devices, prescription ointments, and medications for pets. Not accepted: illegal drugs, pressurized canisters [inhalers/aerosol cans], needles, large sources of liquids, non-prescription ointments and lotions.)

• West Springfield District Station -- 6140 Rolling Road, Springfield, VA 22152
• Fair Oaks District Station -- 12300 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway, Fairfax, VA 22033

Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) has updated the service schedule for the Fairfax Connector bus routes. Beginning January 2023, the routes in this Service Change Presentation will take effect.

Do you know someone or an organization that excels in providing equal rights and community inclusion for people with disabilities in the Fairfax area? Nominate them for the Fairfax Area Disability Services Board's 2022 Martha Glennan Disability Inclusion and Equality Awards!

Nominations are due BEFORE 5 p.m. on Friday, October 21, 2022.

Three Possible Awards Categories:

• Individual: Individual whose work has benefited the lives of persons with disabilities in the Fairfax area.
• Group: A business, non-profit, or organization that has worked to benefit the lives of persons with disabilities in the Fairfax area.
• Self-Advocate: Individual who has been a strong self-advocate or worked to better the lives of persons with disabilities in the Fairfax area.
• Nominees may self-nominate or be nominated by another individual or organization. Awards may or may not be awarded for each category, dependent on nominations received.



Requirements:

• Demonstration of a commitment to promoting equal rights and community inclusion for people with disabilities in Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax or Falls Church.
• Demonstration of how people with disabilities have significantly benefitted from their efforts.

For more information or to fill out the nomination form, click here.

On October 31, Fairfax County will transition from its legacy online land use system to the new Planning and Land Use System (PLUS). PLUS is a major endeavor undertaken by the County to Planning, Land Development, and Environmental Health to make their applications more accessible and customer responsive. Customers will be able to use this platform to create and submit applications, pay fees, track applications, and find existing permits. Beginning on October 21 and ending on October 31, the legacy system will not be available for use as existing plans are integrated with the new system. 

If you would like to learn more about this new system and how to interact with it, residents are welcome to join the Fairfax County PLUS staff for live webinars answering all your questions about the new Planning and Land Use System—PLUS. You can also access all Webinar Wednesday sessions through the GoTo Webinar PLUS Channel.

Crisp fall days and Mason’s fall sporting events have returned. Mason Nation can cheer on the Patriots in a variety of sports this fall: men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, cross country, golf, and men’s and women’s tennis. Please visit the Mason Sports website for schedules, rosters, ticketing, news, and more.

Mason Madness is back!

On Friday, October 14 at 7:00 p.m., EagleBank Arena will host the official kick-off to George Mason men's and women's basketball season.

Mason fans will be introduced to the student-athletes from each team and hear from men's basketball head coach Kim English and women's basketball head coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis. Each team also will take part in a scrimmage on the EagleBank Arena floor.

In addition, Mason Athletics will welcome back the Green Machine for performances throughout the evening. The event also will feature performances from a variety of George Mason student organizations.

Patriot fans are welcome to tailgate prior to Mason Madness. Vehicle load-in is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. and fans can tailgate from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more information, click here.

COVID-19 Vaccine Update — Omicron Resistant Bivalent Booster

The CDC recommends a single dose of the new COVID-19 bivalent booster at least two months following a completed primary series or previous booster vaccination. The bivalent vaccines, also known as “updated boosters,” target the Omicron’s BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, as well as the original COVID-19 strain. The updated Pfizer booster is for people ages 12 and over and the Moderna version is for those 18 and older.

Learn how to schedule your booster appointment at the Fairfax County Health Department website.

Mobile COVID Testing Sites

The mobile testing lab rotates between sites each day. Tests are available on the following days and times at these locations:

Tuesdays and Fridays, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

• Bailey’s Community Center: 5920 Summers Lane, Falls Church

Tuesdays 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

• Centreville Library: 14200 St. Germain Drive, Centreville

Wednesdays 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. and Saturdays 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

• Richard Byrd Library: 7250 Commerce St., Springfield

Thursdays 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. and Sundays 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

• New Grand Mart: 6255 Little River Turnpike, Alexandria
• James Lee Community Center: 2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church

Saturdays 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

• Groveton Baptist Church: 6511 Richmond Highway, Alexandria

More COVID-19 Information



If you tested positive for COVID-19, or have been exposed, it is important to take the steps recommended by the Fairfax County Health Department to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in your family and in the community.

Check the most up-to-date COVID figures at the Virginia Department of Health website.

Questions?

• Contact the Health Department COVID-19 Call Center during business hours Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at (703) 267-3511.

• Text FFXCOVID to 888777 to receive updates from Fairfax County about COVID-19; text FFXCOVIDESP to 888777 for updates in Spanish.

• Email questions or concerns to ffxcovid@fairfaxcounty.gov. This email account will be staffed Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.