10.24.24

Dear Neighbor,

Our Second Annual Climate Action Conference is this Saturday, October 26! Join us at 9:00 a.m. for coffee and pastries and check out our many information tables before the program kicks off.

In addition to hearing from our keynote speaker, Dr. Anand Gourishankar from Children's National Hospital, and expert panelists, you'll have the opportunity to check out electric vehicles and buses from Fairfax County.

There will also be breakout sessions where you can learn about tax incentives and other savings available to make eco-friendly home improvements, purchase an EV, or use public transportation.

Join me, Congressman Gerry Connolly, Chairman Jeff McKay, and health experts to learn about how we can create "A Healthy Fairfax County on the Road to Zero Emissions" this Saturday at Lake Braddock Secondary School (9200 Burke Lake Road, Burke).

Registration is free! To review the conference agenda, please click here. 

Teen Driving Safety

This week is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Teen Driver Safety Week.

We can all do our part on the road to make sure our new, teen drivers arrive safely – whether it's heading to the homecoming dance or coming home from a Friday night football game.

The risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among teens ages 16–19 than among any other age group. Many teens understand the risks of driving, but parents need to reinforce rules for the road.

Teen driving risks include:

Speed Limits

Speeding is a critical issue for all drivers, but it’s especially deadly for teens with less experience. In fact, approximately one-third of all teen drivers of passenger vehicles involved in fatal crashes are speeding at the time of a crash. Data shows that males were more likely to be involved in fatal speeding-related crashes than females. Practice driving with your teen in different types of weather and talk about the importance of speed awareness in changing road conditions. Remind teens to always drive within the speed limit.

Seat Belt Safety

Wearing a seat belt is a simple way teens can stay safer in a vehicle. Unfortunately, too many teens aren’t buckling up. In fact, approximately one half of the teen passenger vehicle drivers who die in crashes are unbuckled. Teen drivers and passengers are more likely to die in a crash if they are unbuckled (nine out of 10 of the passengers who died were also unbuckled). Empower teens to stand strong and confirm everyone is buckled before the vehicle moves. Reward teens with driving privileges for buckling up every trip, every time, and requiring all their passengers in every seat to do the same.

Impaired Driving

While teens are too young to legally buy, possess, or consume alcohol, nationally, approximately 1 in 5 teen passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal crashes have alcohol in their system. Alcohol isn’t the only substance that can keep teens from driving safely: marijuana affects a driver’s ability to react to their surroundings. Remind teens that driving under the influence of any impairing substance — including illicit or prescription drugs, or over-the-counter medication — can have deadly consequences. Let teens know that safe driving behaviors are rewarded with the continued privilege to drive.

Passengers

Passengers in a teen’s vehicle can lead to disastrous consequences. Research shows the risk of a fatal crash dramatically increases in direct relation to the number of passengers in a vehicle. The likelihood that a teen driver will engage in risky behavior triples when multiple passengers are in the same vehicle. Virginia limits the number of passengers teen drivers can have in their vehicles. Teens under 18 may only drive one other passenger under 21, with exceptions. After they have held a license for one year, your teen may carry up to three passengers under age 21 in certain situations.

Distracted Driving

Cell phone use while driving is more than just risky — it can be deadly. Texting while driving is illegal in Virginia. Remind teens about the dangers of using a phone while driving and clarify that any phone use (texting, talking, recording video, or using any social media apps) is unacceptable. Even if they are stopped at a light, remind teens that posting on social media while driving is unacceptable and illegal.

Distracted driving isn’t limited to cell phone use. Other passengers, audio and climate controls in the vehicle, and eating or drinking while driving are all examples of dangerous distractions for any driver. According to the most recent data available, in 2021, among teen drivers of passenger vehicles involved in fatal crashes, 7% were reported as distracted at the time of the crash. Remind teens that headphones are not appropriate to wear while driving a vehicle. All drivers need to be able to hear another vehicle’s horn or the siren from an emergency vehicle, so they can safely move over and out of the path.

Learn more about restrictions for teen drivers in Virginia or about Teen Driving Safety on NHTSA's website.

Nominate the Best of Braddock

This is the final week to nominate a person or organization for the Annual Best of Braddock Awards. The deadline is October 31!

The annual Best of Braddock awards are an opportunity to recognize the people and organizations working to make our wonderful community even better!

Take a moment to nominate a neighbor or organization for these categories:

• Citizen of the Year
• Young Person of the Year
• Neighborhood Enhancement or Beautification
• Most "Can-Do" Public Employee
• Club or Organization Making a Difference
• Civic Engagement

Submit your nominations online by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 31. Winners will be notified before the Best of Braddock Awards on Wednesday, December 4.

Email braddock@fairfaxcounty.gov with any questions.

Yours in service,

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:

• Lake Accotink Dam Assessment Extended Due to Need for Debris Removal
• Drive-Thru Drug Take-Back Event
• Affordable Housing Waitlist Now Open
• Upcoming SSPA Virtual Meetings
• WETA - If You Lived Here
• Flu and COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic
• Friends of Royal Lake Meeting
• Lake Accotink Preservation Feasibility Study Survey Closing Soon
• ABC's of Voting in Fairfax
• Battery Recycling Boxes Available

Lake Accotink Dam Assessment Extended Due to Need for Debris Removal

Earlier this fall, the Fairfax County Park Authority began an assessment of the Lake Accotink dam. Regular assessments of the dam structure are conducted every few years to evaluate structural integrity and identify any potential needs for maintenance and/or repair. Lowering the water level by up to five feet is necessary to perform an adequate inspection of the structure.

Since October 11, the water level at the lake has been lowered by approximately two feet with the removal of debris along the top of the dam wall and flashboards. Unfortunately, when divers inspected the sluice gates at the base of the dam, they found that a large amount of debris had accumulated. This debris must be removed prior to being able to safely operate the gates to drain the remaining water and to complete the assessment. It is expected that the dive team will be able to return and complete the work this winter.

Once the dam assessment is complete, it may take up to two months for water levels to return to their original state, depending on weather conditions. The Park Authority anticipates that the dam assessment will be completed in advance of the spring opening of the marina. Until that time, the marina and dam area will continue to be fenced with warning signs in place to reminding park patrons to keep off the exposed lakebed as a safety precaution. 

Drive-Thru Drug Take-Back Event

The West Springfield District Police Station will host a drive-thru drug take-back event in the parking lot of the Kings Park Library (9000 Burke Lake Road, Burke) on Saturday, October 26, from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Properly dispose of your unneeded Rx meds at any collection site.

Affordable Housing Waitlist Now Open

Fairfax County’s affordable housing waitlist is now open for eligible families. Applications are available online until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, October 27.

Program applicants will be chosen at random to be placed on the waiting lists. Eligibility hinges on income level and household size.

Participating units are:

• Adults - 18 years and above
• Coralain Gardens (7435 Arlington Boulevard, Falls Church)
• Studio, one, and two-bedroom apartments
• The Residences at North Hill (7230/7240/7250/7255 Nightingale Lane, Alexandria)
• One, two, and three-bedroom apartments
• Adults - 62 years and above
• Little River Glen (4001 Barker Court, Fairfax)
•  One-bedroom apartments
• The Senior Residence at North Hill (7245 Nightingale Lane, Alexandria)
•  One and two-bedroom apartments

Applicants must apply online on RentCafe. Instructions are available in both English and Spanish. Individuals who need assistance can call (703) 246-5100.

Some applicants will be randomly placed on a waiting list. All applications received have an equal opportunity to be selected. Once a unit becomes available, the waiting list applicants will be contacted, screened, and determined eligible based on income level, household size, and the size of the rental unit. Households cannot currently receive other federal rental housing assistance to qualify.

More information is available on the County's website.

Upcoming SSPA Virtual Meetings

Fairfax County’s next round of the Site-Specific Plan Amendment (SSPA) process will begin on January 13, 2025. SSPA is the County’s process for reviewing proposed land use changes (called “nominations”) to the Comprehensive Plan for individual sites. The Comprehensive Plan is a guide for decision-making about the built and natural environment and is used by the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors to make land use decisions.

You are invited to join an upcoming community meeting to learn more about the SSPA process, timeline, and minor revisions to the submission items and justification criteria. County staff will share how to participate in the process and submission requirements. Staff will also be available to answer questions about the process. The virtual community meetings are scheduled for:

• Monday, October 28 (7:00 - 8:30 p.m.)
• Wednesday, October 30 (12:00 - 1:00 p.m.)

Additional information, including an updated SSPA Nominator Guide, will be provided at the end of October. Weblinks to these community meetings can be found on the SSPA website (no registration is required).

WETA - If You Lived Here

WETA is thrilled to premiere a new season of the WETA local production, If You Lived Here. Follow the exploration of Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia neighborhoods and discover what it is like to live in these unique and charming communities. 

Guided by realtor Lauren Breslaw, hosts Jen Osborn and Ricardo Frederick Evans catch a glimpse of what Burke has to offer. They begin their tour in a four-bedroom townhouse, then visit a five-bedroom colonial, and finished exploring a beautiful newly built five-bedroom family residence minutes from Lake Braddock. While peeking into some of Burke’s most breathtaking homes, viewers will also learn about the history of the community’s railroad, the Copperthite Racetrack, as well as the residents’ successful campaign against the federal government’s plan for “Burke Airport.” 

Watch If You Lived Here featuring Burke, Virginia on Monday, October 28, at 9:00 p.m. on WETA PBS and at 8:00 p.m. on WETA Metro, or stream with the free PBS app. 

To learn more about the neighborhood featured in this episode and others, check out the WETA Metro DC Neighborhood Guide.

Flu and COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic

The Korean Community Service Center (KCSC) will host a Flu and COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic on Tuesday, October 29, from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at KCSC (7700 Little River Turnpike #405, Annandale).

Everyone vaccinated at the event will receive a $20 gift card. Please register in advance.

Bring a photo ID, health insurance card if you have one, and cash, check, or credit card.

Email mhare@kcscgw.org or call (703) 354-6354 with any questions.

Friends of Royal Lake Meeting

The Friends of Royal Lake (FORL) will host a community meeting on Wednesday, October 30, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at Braddock Hall (9002 Burke Lake Road, Burke).

Presentations will be given by the Fairfax County Trails officials about five upcoming projects to Royal Lake Parks. If you'd like to participate virtually, email friendsofroyallake@gmail.com for a link.

Lake Accotink Preservation Feasibility Study Survey Closing Soon

The Lake Accotink proposed Scope of Work and survey are both available online; the survey's deadline has been extended to Wednesday, October 30.

For a detailed update on the project, you can read the September 19 Advisory or the Braddock Beacon from August 2 (beginning on Page 16).

For more information, visit the Smaller Lake Accotink Study and Engagement Survey webpage.

ABC's of Voting in Fairfax

Accessible Voting

Curbside voting is available at early voting and election day polling locations for people 65 or older or with a disability. When you arrive, look for the "Curbside Voting" sign near the accessible parking area. Call the phone number on the sign to contact an election officer. Learn more about curbside voting and accessible voting.

Ballot Questions

View sample ballots for precincts in the Braddock District. Please note that the second page of all ballots in Fairfax County are the same, and a sample of the second page is on page 31 in the PDF. Read an explanation of the bonds for Fairfax County.

Early Voting

Early voting is happening now, and 13 more voting locations recently opened! The last day to vote early is Saturday, November 2.

In and around the Braddock District, you can vote at:

• Fairfax County Government Center - Room 251 (12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax)
• Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Saturdays (October 26/November 2): 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday, October 27: 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
• Burke Centre Library (5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke)
• Monday – Friday: 1:00 – 7:00 p.m.
• Saturdays (October 26/November 2): 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday (October 27): 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
• West Springfield Governmental Center (6140 Rolling Road, Springfield)
• Monday – Friday: 1:00 – 7:00 p.m.
• Saturdays (October 26/November 2): 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday (October 27): 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Find the full list of 16 early voting sites with hours of operations on the Office of Elections' website. You can also check live wait times for each location.

Mail-in Ballots

If you plan on voting by mail, you must request a mail-in ballot by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 25. After receiving your ballot, it must be postmarked and sent by Election Day, Tuesday, November 5.

Registering to Vote

The deadline to register to vote or update your address for a regular ballot has now passed. If you register now through Election Day, you will vote using a provisional ballot, which will be counted upon confirming voter eligibility. You can register, update your existing registration, or check your registration information on Virginia's Voter Portal.

For more information about anything related to voting or elections, check out the Fairfax County Office of Elections’ website.

Battery Recycling Boxes Available

Bring your old batteries to the battery recycling box! The Fairfax County Solid Waste Sustainability Team is implementing a battery collection initiative, provided by funds collected from the plastic bag tax.

Drop off your old single-use and rechargeable batteries in the lobby of the Braddock District Office (9002 Burke Lake Road, Burke) Monday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Battery boxes are now available at all Supervisors’ offices and the Fairfax County Government Center (12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax).

You may bring the following types of batteries to be dropped off in the Battery Recycling Box: 

• Alkaline/single-use batteries
• AA, AAA, 9-volt
• C cell, D cell, button cell
• Lithium Primary
• Carbon Zinc
• Rechargeable batteries
• Nickel Cadmium
• Lithium Ion
• Small Sealed Lead Acid
• Nickle Metal Hydride
• Nickle Zinc
• Cellphones - All types & ages

Please Note:

• We can only take limited quantities of batteries and we will ask that you bag them individually (bags provided at our drop-off box).
• We cannot accept damaged, defective, recalled batteries, car batteries, or individual batteries weighing more than 11 pounds. These must be taken to the I-66 Transfer Station or I-95 Landfill Complex.

Visit the County’s Battery Recycling page for more information.