Dear Neighbor,

Thank you to everyone who came to Braddock Bark this weekend! Over 700 people attended, along with dogs of all sizes. Thanks to my hardworking Braddock District team and Celebrate Fairfax Inc. for making this event a success!

Thank you to all the vendors who joined us:

• VCA Southpaws Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Specialists
• Shenandoah Shepherd Rescue
• Homeward Trails Animal Rescue
• A Forever Home Rescue
• Washington Capitals Caps Canines
• Miss Boujee Paws Boutique
• Snouts & Stouts
• Fairfax Veterinary Hospital
• Paw Mind Body LLC
• Veterinary Holistic Center
• Seva Truck
• Fairfax County Department of Emergency Management
• Pet Emergency Kit checklist
• Pet Emergency/Service card
• Fairfax County Police Department’s Animal Protection Police
• Fairfax County Animal Shelter

As a result of this event, participating rescue organizations received a number of inquiries and applications for adoption or fostering of their dogs. I can’t wait to see you all again at next year's Braddock Bark!

Memorial Day

This Monday is Memorial Day, a day to honor those who sacrificed their lives to protect and defend.

A few reminders for this weekend:

• The Park Authority will be offering free admission to County Rec Centers and lakefront parks for veterans and military families on Monday. Details can be found here.
• The Fairfax Connector will be operating Sunday service on Monday, you can view more information here.
• Fairfax County Government offices and Fairfax County Schools will be closed on Monday. Some facilities are open; view operating status here.
• Early voting locations will be closed on Monday.
• The Marina at Burke Lake Park will open on Monday.

Remembering Norma Heck

I recognized the loss of longtime resident of the North Springfield community, Norma Heck, at this week's Board meeting. Norma was born on February 9, 1931 and grew up on a working farm in West Virginia. After getting married to her husband Edwin in 1949, they moved to North Springfield in 1955 and resided there for over six decades, raising their three daughters.

In addition to her career in the building industry, Norma served in several community roles as a PTA president, advisory board member for the Division of Children, and a multi-term President of the North Springfield Civic Association. Norma's contributions to local transit, transportation and infrastructure projects to make our community safer will significantly impact generations to come.

Read about Norma's life here or listen to remarks from the meeting.

Norma's loss will be felt heavily, and I am keeping her family and the North Springfield community in my thoughts.

Yours in service,

Supervisor James R. Walkinshaw

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Continue reading below for more information on:

• Lake Accotink Task Force Established
• DAV Chapter 10 May Service Meeting
• Lake Accotink Dam Crossing Ribbon Cutting
• Don't Fry Day
• Family ASTRO Night
• VRE's Free Fare Fridays
• Parent Registration for K-12 Learning Acceleration Grants Now Open 
• Register for LLI/NOVA's Summer Term
• Tax Credits for Energy Upgrades through Fairfax County and the Inflation Reduction Act
• Vote Early until June 17

At Tuesday’s Board meeting, Supervisor Walkinshaw’s motion to create a Task Force on the Future of Lake Accotink was unanimously approved. Chairman McKay and Supervisor Lusk cosponsored the motion.

The task force will be chaired by former Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova and include former Braddock District Supervisor John Cook. The membership will consist of representatives of the community, environmental and nonprofit organizations, and a representative from the Park Authority. The task force will review previous studies and findings to ensure that all possible options have been considered, identify questions that should be addressed regarding a managed wetland or hybrid option, and ensure that impacts to the environment, surrounding communities, recreational uses of the park, and financial obligations are considered. The task force will begin its work this summer and report back to the Board of Supervisors upon completion. 

Read the Board Matter.

The Disabled American Veterans Arlington-Fairfax Chapter 10 (DAV Chapter 10) provides Service Officers, volunteers, donations, and support to a variety of programs in Northern Virginia, across the Commonwealth and the nation.

DAV Chapter 10’s May Business Meeting will be on Saturday, May 27 in Braddock Hall (9002 Burke Lake Road, Burke) beginning at 11:00 a.m. 

For more information about DAV Chapter 10, check out their Twitter, Facebook, or sign up for their emails.

Join the Fairfax County Park Authority and Supervisor James Walkinshaw to celebrate the official opening of Accotink Creek Crossing on National Trails Day, Saturday, June 3.

The day will begin with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 8:30 a.m., followed by a packed day of planned trail activities for the whole family!

Lake Accotink is located at 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield. For more information about the event, including scheduled activities, visit the National Trails Day at Lake Accotink page or email [email protected].

Tomorrow, Friday, May 26, is Don't Fry Day, a national event held the Friday before Memorial Day that encourages people across the country and around the world to take steps toward reducing their risk of developing skin cancer.

Tips for Sun Safety

• Wear sunscreen every day when you’re outdoors. Look for products that offer broad-spectrum protection from both UVA and UVB rays, as well as an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 30. Some people may need to apply more than one coat of sunscreen in order for it to be effective.
• Wear protective clothing like hats and sunglasses when you’re outside for long periods at a time (like playing sports).
• Limit time spent outdoors during peak hours between 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. if possible.
• Avoid tanning booths or beds.
• Wear sunglasses that block UVA and UVB rays.
• Seek shade whenever possible.
• If possible, take breaks from the sun every hour or so by going inside for 15 minutes.

Learn more about Don't Fry Day and other sun safety tips here.

Bring the whole family to Fairfax County Neighborhood & Community Services' ASTRO Night at the Mott Center (1211 Braddock Road, Fairfax) next Friday, June 2 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Activities include:

• Planetarium Dome
• Star Chart Craft
• Stargazing
• Jumbo Rocket Popsicles
• And more!

For more information about this event, email [email protected]

The Virginia Railway Express announced all Friday rides on their trains will be free, beginning June 2 until September 1.

Read the full release here.

The Virginia Department of Education is now accepting applications from parents for tutoring microgrants for their children.

The $30 million dollar program provides $1,500 grants to parents of school-age children for tutoring in English, mathematics, science, and history, as well as foreign languages required to meet diploma requirements.

Children from homes with family incomes at 300% or less of the federal poverty level qualify for $3,000 grants. Grants may also be used for support services such as speech language pathology and reading interventions.

The grant program is open to parents of any public, private, parochial, or home-school student in grades K-12 residing in Virginia. The first step in the process is to visit K-12 Learning Acceleration Grants page, where you can create an application and receive more information.  

The Lifetime Learning Institute at Northern Virginia Community College (LLI/NOVA) invites you to be part of its 2023 summer term and to participate in other activities, including monthly forums, day trips, classes, special interest groups and social activities.

The summer term is from May 30 – September 1, but dues provide unlimited access to all activities for a full year.

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 today. Contact LLI/NOVA at (703) 323-3746 or email [email protected] with questions.

As a local government leader for electrification, Supervisor Walkinshaw encourages Fairfax County residents who are prepared to make household energy upgrades to take advantage of current federal tax credits (through the Inflation Reduction Act - IRA) and incentives offered by Fairfax County government.

The federal tax credits include:

1. The Residential Clean Energy Credit -- A 30% tax credit for the purchase of residential equipment like rooftop solar, wind and geothermal equipment, and battery storage with the capacity of at least three kWh.
2. The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit -- A tax credit for residential energy-efficiency improvements, like insulation, new doors and energy efficient windows. The base credit amount is 30% of total costs with limits on each type of improvement. The total annual credit is capped at $1,200, with a separate annual limit of $2,000 for heat pumps and heat pump water heaters.

The federal tax credit limit resets each year and can be used again for qualifying upgrades. For an estimate of federal tax credits and possible up-front, point-of-sale discounts, use the IRA calculator to see your savings based on household income, tax filing status and other factors.

Be sure to also take advantage of incentives offered by Fairfax County. Currently, the permit fee for solar applications is being waived and a tax exemption is offered for installation of solar equipment through the Solar Energy Equipment Tax Exemption Program. For more information, click here or call the County Permit Application Center at (703) 222-0801 and the Department of Tax Administration at (703) 222-8234.  

Early in-person voting for the June 20 Democratic Primary Election is happening now until Saturday, June 17.

Voting is available at three locations:

• Fairfax County Government Center | Conference Rooms 2/3 - 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax
• Weekday hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
• Mt. Vernon Governmental Center - 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria
• Weekday hours: 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
• North County Governmental Center - 1801 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston
• Weekday hours: 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.



Early voting sites will be closed on Monday, May 29.

*The Republican Party has not called for a primary in Fairfax County*

Beginning Saturday, June 10, an additional 13 early voting locations will open across the County, including at Burke Centre Library (5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke).

You can find all the locations, their operating hours, and information on Saturday voting on the County's Office of Elections' website.

• Find a list of qualified candidates here.
• You can verify the new districts here.