Dear Neighbor,

This Saturday, October 1, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Supervisor Smith and I will lead the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors team in this year's American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Out of the Darkness Walk to raise awareness for suicide prevention. 

The pandemic highlighted the need for mental health resources across the Commonwealth as only 52% of Virginians had access to adequate mental health resources. That is an alarming statistic in America's 13th wealthiest state.

All of us have either lost a friend or loved one, or know someone whose life has been impacted by suicide. Supervisor Smith and I will walk in their honor, and I hope you can join us Saturday, rain or shine.*

Early Voting

Early voting for the November 8 election opened last week as citizens began casting their ballots both in-person and by mail. In-person early voting is available at designated locations around the County. Find detailed information on the locations, dates, and times available for in-person early voting below. 

Though the midterm general election is underway, you can still register to vote or update your voter registration until October 17. Register online or in-person at locations such as my office (9002 Burke Lake Road), the Office of Elections at the Government Center, or at any DMV location.

American Disposal Services

As I wrote last week, I introduced a Board Matter at the September 13 Board of Supervisors Meeting directing County staff to update the Board on efforts to address the complaints about American Disposal Services (ADS) and to inform the Board about enforcement options to hold ADS accountable. Shortly thereafter, I received a request to meet in person with top executives at ADS.

During that meeting, ADS leadership acknowledged the recent lack of reliable service. They outlined the efforts they are taking to improve, such as rerouting for efficiency, hiring new drivers, and bringing on additional customer service representatives.

I shared the concerns of many Braddock District residents and my own frustrations with the inconsistency of collection by ADS and poor customer service, but also the reality that these challenges are not new. My predecessor, John Cook, had similar conversations in 2019 when they failed to provide the minimum of weekly pickups as required by the County ordinance.

I am glad that ADS acknowledges the issues and are working to improve the level of service, but as I told them, I’m not at all confident that we won’t be back in this same predicament two years from now.

That’s why we’ll continue to use the tools, albeit limited, that the County has to hold ADS and other private haulers accountable while exploring all available options to change the model of waste collection in Fairfax. If you experience problems with the haulers in your neighborhood, I encourage you to continue contacting my office and the Department of Public Works at trashmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Continue reading below for more information on:

• Out of the Darkness Walk October 1
• Early Voting Underway
• Tropical Storm Ian Update
• Marian Homes Shredding Event
• Public Safety Updates
• State Tax Rebate
• September is for Socks
• Venture Into Volunteering
• Transportation Updates
• PLUS System Integration
• Public Health Information

Supervisor James Walkinshaw

* AFSP is monitoring Hurricane Ian closely and will update this website by Friday, September 30 at 5:00 p.m., should anything change.

On Saturday, October 1, Supervisors James Walkinshaw and Kathy Smith will once again lead Team Fairfax in the annual American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Out of the Darkness Walk to fight suicide. This event raises support for scientific research, evidence-based resources, training, and advocacy. AFSP does life-saving work, and they invite you to register today.

Many people’s introduction to AFSP comes through the Out of the Darkness Walks, taking place in cities nationwide. In their Community, Campus and Overnight Walks, those affected by suicide – and those who support them – raise awareness and much-needed funds, strongly sending the message that suicide is preventable, and that no one is alone.

Walk Date: October 1, 2022

Walk Location: Veterans Amphitheater-10485 Armstrong St, Fairfax VA

Walk Event Timeline:

• 11:00 a.m.: Check-in / Registration / Pre-Walk Activities

• 12:30 p.m.: Opening Ceremony 

• 1:00 p.m.: Walk Begins 

• 2:30 p.m.: Event Ends

* AFSP is monitoring Hurricane Ian closely and will update this website by Friday, September 30 at 5:00 p.m., should anything change.

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.

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.

Ian is now a tropical storm with its center moving northeastward across central Florida, and nearly all of the heavy rains located to the north over northeastern Florida. Ian should move off the east coast of Florida later today, and then swing northward toward the South Carolina coast during the next 36 hours.

For Fairfax County, the remnants of Tropical Storm Ian are expected to enter the county as rain and wind Friday night. Heavier rain may impact us in two primary waves of rain, with the first from Friday night ending early Saturday and the second occurring Sunday through Sunday night. Overall rain may last through Tuesday next week.

• Scattered localized flooding is possible from rain, with greatest threat near/south of US-50. Overall, we are not expecting significant flooding impacts from this event. The rainfall totals are expected to be between 1” – 2” with a high end of 3” over a the three day period of Friday – Sunday. A rumble of thunder may enter the area early Saturday morning, but no significant thunderstorm threat is expected.

• Winds will be sustained at 15 – 20 mph with gusts between 20 - 30 mph throughout the weekend.

• Tidal anomalies of 1 – 2 ft are possible, but no significant tidal flooding for Fairfax County is expected.

Fairfax County Department of Emergency Management and Security will continue to monitor the track of Ian and provide any necessary updates or changes as needed.

Marian Homes will be hosting a document shredding event this Saturday, October 1, from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. at the St. Mary of Sorrows Parish (5222 Sideburn Rd, Fairfax). Please follow the guidance of those directing traffic in and out of the parish parking lot.

Community Advisory Committee Community Engagement Meeting

The West Springfield District Community Advisory Committee will be hosting a Community Engagement Meeting on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. These meetings offer the community a chance to dialogue and communicate more effectively with Fairfax County Police Officers. 

The speaker will be 2nd Lieutenant Christopher Crawford of the Civil Disturbance Unit. This meeting will be in-person at the West Springfield District Station, 6140 Rolling Road, Springfield, VA.  

Consider signing up for the West Springfield Community Advisory Committee (CAC) newsletter. The email address is: wscacmailbox@gmail.com. CAC meetings are generally held on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. (except for July and August), and all ages are welcome to attend.  

If you have any questions, contact MPO Tony Capizzi at 703-277-2363.

Join this Zoom.

Password: 575720

Join by phone:

USA 636 651 3141

Conference code: 404496

National Coffee with a Cop Day

National Coffee With a Cop Day 2022. Join Officers from the West Springfield District Station on Wednesday, October 5th from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at Dunkin Donuts - 10633 Braddock Rd, Fairfax VA 22032

Bring your friends and family, grab a coffee, and talk with local police officers! See you there!

Take a Moment: Pedestrian, Bike, and Traffic Safety Campaign

This week, Fairfax County introduced a new pedestrian safety campaign called Take a Moment, to reduce the annual rate of pedestrian and bicycle related accidents.  Every year, the number of pedestrian and bicycle related fatalities and injuries continues to rise at an unacceptable rate. Fairfax County is committed to enhancing pedestrian, bicycle and traffic safety by implementing a multi-faceted plan to reduce and ultimately eliminate traffic-related deaths and injuries.

The 2022 Virginia General Assembly passed a law earlier this year giving taxpayers with a liability a rebate of up to $250 for individual filers and up to $500 for joint filers.  Not every taxpayer is eligible. If you had a tax liability last year, you will receive up to $250 if you filed individually, and up to $500 if you filed jointly. Tax liability is the amount of tax you owe throughout the year minus any credits, deductions, or subtractions.

You can check your eligibility on the Virginia Tax webtool.

September is for Socks! The Fairfax County Domestic and Sexual Violence Services program is requesting donations of socks throughout the month of September. Socks should be new. They need socks for women or children in low-cut or crew-cut. A variety of sizes are needed. The last day to donate socks is tomorrow, September 30.

You can bring your sock donations to the Braddock District office located at 9002 Burke Lake Rd. Burke, VA 22015 during office hours (9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Mon-Fri), or place your sock donation in a box located outside the office during library operating hours. If you would like additional information, please call (703) 425-9300 or email Irma.Mejia-Lewis@fairfaxcounty.gov.

The 17th Venture into Volunteering Fair is returning virtually in October, 2022.  Don’t miss this opportunity to explore various ways to volunteer in Fairfax County. Events will be held Wednesday–Friday, October 12, 13, and 14, 2022 from 10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

You may join the virtual Zoom event at any time, for any of the 30-minute presentations. No pre-registration is necessary.

Twenty-seven non-profit organizations and Fairfax County agencies will share how they incorporate volunteers in service and be available to answer questions. Chairman Jeff McKay will give opening remarks.

Find the schedule and details here. 

Temporary Braddock Road Lane Closure in Front of Erickson Senior Living Facility from September 26-October 14

The right lane of eastbound Braddock Road and the shared use path in front of Erickson Senior Living’s new Woodleigh Chase project will continue to be closed through October 14. The closure will impact the one-block area between Burke Station Road and Rec Center Road (across from the entrance to Fairfax Memorial Park). The road closure will be in effect from approximately 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day. The sidewalk will be barricaded and closed until the road work has been completed. Signage will direct pedestrians to use the north side of Braddock Road. This closure is necessary to continue construction related to the new right turn lane being built at Rec Center Road.

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.

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.

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.