Dear Neighbor,

Next week is Thanksgiving and we have a lot to be thankful for 77% of Fairfax residents 18 and older are fully vaccinated and thousands of children ages 5 to 11 are being vaccinated each day. Encouraging our loved ones to get vaccinated or to get their booster is still the best way to fight COVID-19. While our case counts are falling, the virus is still in our community.

I'm particularly thankful to all of you who donated to our recent Stuff the Bus food drives. We collected more than 22,000 pounds of food at our two Braddock District locations! Because of your generosity, hundreds of families will have warm meals to enjoy with their loved ones this holiday season. Thank you!

School-located Vaccine Clinics

Beginning this week, the Fairfax Health District and Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) began offering the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 at 10 clinics located at schools across the County. These clinics all have different hours of operation, so be sure to check your preferred location's hours before heading out. Clinics are currently being held after school and on weekends at the following 10 schools:

  • Annandale Terrace ES (11/18 and 12/9 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)
  • Hutchison ES (12/7 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)
  • Woodlawn ES (11/19 and 12/10 from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m.)
  • Centreville ES (11/20 and 12/11 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
  • Providence ES (11/22 and 12/13 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)
  • Franklin Sherman (11/29 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)
  • Groveton ES (12/14 and 1/4 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)
  • Shrevewood ES (12/15 and 1/5 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)
  • Floris ES (12/16 and 1/6 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)
  • Keene Mill ES (12/17 and 1/7 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)

Attendees are not required to be a student at that school. All children, including those who attend private schools or are home-schooled, are welcome. No appointment is necessary and all vaccinations are free. A parent or other responsible adult must attend with their child. Learn more and find hours of operation by visiting the Fairfax County Emergency Blog.
Read below for more information on:

  • Partnership for a Healthier Fairfax 2021 Annual Meeting
  • Public Hearing on Expanding Real Estate Tax Relief Program
  • Rolling Road-Old Keene Mill Road Intersection Improvements Now Open in Springfield
  • Best of Braddock
  • Annandale United Methodist Church Food Distribution
  • LLI/NOVA Spring Term 2022
  • Martha Glennan Disability Inclusion and Equality Awards Ceremony
  • Apply To Be A HomeWise Volunteer By December 10
  • Thermal Camera Loan Program
Yours in service,
Supervisor James Walkinshaw
    Partnership for a Healthier Fairfax 2021 Annual Meeting
Social isolation and loneliness (SIL) are significant risk factors for a number of behavioral and physical health issues across the lifespan. So how do individuals promote social engagement and connectedness in order to prevent social isolation and loneliness in the first place?

One way is to join the Partnership for a Healthier Fairfax for an overview of SIL and a discussion on how policy, systems, and environmental changes can help promote a more socially connected Fairfax County. A keynote presentation from Healthy Places by Design, a Fairfax-focused panel discussion, and the sharing of new tools and resources will all be part of the event. Register for the free event today.

Questions? Contact Susan Sanow, Partnership for a Healthier Fairfax Coordinator at susan.sanow@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Public Hearing on Expanding Real Estate Tax Relief Program
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a public hearing on December 7 to consider expanding the real estate tax relief program for seniors and people with disabilities.

If approved, the expanded program would raise the income/net worth threshold levels, add a new 75% tax relief bracket, and offer a new option to defer property tax payments. Increasing the net worth threshold will allow more retirees with 401ks and other retirement accounts to participate in the relief program. The senior tax relief program was last updated in 2006.

These changes would be adopted in two phases during the next two years if approved in December.

Would you like to testify during the hearing? Visit Fairfax County’s website and sign up now. Learn more about this program by visiting Fairfax County’s News Center.
Rolling Road-Old Keene Mill Road Intersection Improvements Now Open in Springfield
It’s now easier to travel through the intersection of Rolling Road (Route 638) and Old Keene Mill Road (Route 644) with the completion of improvements to help improve traffic flow and safety, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Drivers on northbound Rolling Road now have a second left-turn lane to westbound Old Keene Mill Road, as well as a dedicated right-turn lane to eastbound Old Keene Mill Road.

Other project improvements include striping four higher-visibility crosswalks, replacing pedestrian signals with ones that are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant and accessible, replacing the traffic signal to accommodate the new turn lanes and reconstructing the median along Rolling Road just south of Old Keene Mill Road.

Work began in February on the intersection improvements, with final detail work occurring in the coming weeks with minimal impacts to traffic. The $5.2 million project is financed with state and Fairfax County Revenue Sharing funding.

In this area, Rolling Road averages about 25,000 vehicles a day and Old Keene Mill Road averages about 35,000 based on 2019 data.

For the most recent updates and to learn more, visit the VDOT project website.
Best of Braddock
I’m glad to announce our annual Best of Braddock awards ceremony will return the evening of Wednesday, December 8. After last year’s hiatus due to the pandemic, we've decided to move forward with a virtual Best of Braddock. Given the incredible demonstrations of community spirit and service we've seen during the pandemic, it's more important than ever that we come together to recognize individuals and organizations who have put in the work to make their neighborhood or broader community a great place to live. I hope you'll mark your calendar and join us!
 
A link and additional details will be included on my website in the upcoming days. A selection committee of Braddock residents has been formed and will select the award winners. Winners will be selected for the following categories:
 
  • Young Person of the Year
  • Organization Making a Difference in the Braddock District
  • Neighborhood Beautification, Enhancement or Community-Building Effort
  • Braddock District Citizen of the Year
 
Reach out with additional questions at braddock@fairfaxcounty.gov or call (703) 925-9300, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For Braddock District updates, sign up for Braddock’s Email List by visiting https://conta.cc/2XqJBMm. Make sure to follow me on Facebook @SupervisorJamesWalkinshaw, on Twitter @JrWalkinshaw, and on Instagram @SupervisorJamesWalkinshaw to receive daily updates. I hope to see you on Wednesday, December 8!
Annandale United Methodist Church
Food Distribution
The Annandale United Methodist Church's Mission Center hosts a weekly food distribution, and they are requesting donations of gently used children’s coats of all ages and sizes, empty egg cartons (1 dozen container), and adult diapers of all sizes, they will take partially open packages.

Want to help? You can drop off your donations at the Annandale UMC Mission Center at 7901 Heritage Dr. Annandale VA, 22003, Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. If the Mission Center is closed or no one is available there are 2 donation boxes located outside the two red doors, where items can be left. You may also drop off your donations at the Braddock District office at 9002 Burke Lake Rd. Burke, VA 22015, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. A donation box will also be located outside the Braddock District office for after hours drop offs.
If you have any questions, please contact Irma Mejia-Lewis at the Braddock District office at (703) 425-9300.
LLI/NOVA Spring Term 2022
Lifetime Learning Institute (LLI/NOVA) invites you to be part of its exciting spring term 2022 and to participate in our other activities, including monthly forums, day trips, classes, special interest groups, and social activities. Spring term is from January 3 through May 27, 2022, but your dues provide unlimited access to all activities for a full year. Registration for the spring term begins Monday, December 13.

At $110 per year, LLI/NOVA is one of the best bargains around- a full year of unlimited classes, access to travel at special rates, participation in forums, parties, field trips, and special interest groups, and an opportunity to learn new things and develop friendships with like- minded members.

The Lifetime Learning Institute of Northern Virginia, affiliated with Northern Virginia Community College’s Annandale Campus, is a non-profit, member run organization dedicated to providing continuing educational opportunities to older adults, age 50+.

Join LLI/NOVA and register online on their website or call (703) 323-3746
(leave a message); or email them at admin@llinova.org.
Martha Glennan Disability Inclusion and Equality Awards Ceremony
The Martha Glennan Disability Inclusion and Equality Awards Ceremony will be on Monday, December 13, from 6:30 p.m. through 7:30 p.m. Would you like to join? Make sure to register today!

The Fairfax Area – Disability Services Board’s Martha Glennan Disability Inclusion and Equality Awards are presented annually to recognize people, businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, and other organizations that excel in demonstrating a commitment to promoting equal rights and community inclusion for people with disabilities in the Fairfax area and how people with disabilities have significantly benefitted from their efforts.
Apply To Be A HomeWise Volunteer
By December 10
Apply by December 10, to join a dynamic group of people dedicated to helping low- and moderate-income county residents save money on their utility bills by making energy and water-saving improvements to their homes. These volunteers also work with residents to create habits that will support energy and water conservation over time.

The HomeWise program offers a variety of volunteer opportunities. There is something for everyone, regardless of skill level or past experience. Volunteers receive 10 weeks of virtual training, culminating in a hands-on demonstration, before they are deployed into the community. Click here to find out if volunteering with HomeWise is right for you.
Thermal Camera Loan Program
Fairfax County residents can reserve thermal imaging cameras from any branch of the Fairfax County Public Library. Reserve a camera just like a book through the library catalog and it will be shipped to your local library branch for pick-up.

Fairfax County is making these cameras available so residents can inspect their home or business for hot and cold spots, which often indicate energy saving opportunities. By implementing some of the weatherization improvements indicated below, residents can make their home a more comfortable place to live while reducing utility bills. ENERGY STAR estimates that air sealing and insulation improvements can cut heating and cooling costs by 17% for homes in our area.
Watch the video above to see the thermal camera in action
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