I couldn't be more excited to share that Braddock Bark is almost here!

Join us at Lake Accotink Park from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. this Sunday, June 12 for some paw-some fun. Braddock Bark will feature adoption opportunities, pet-focused local businesses with free giveaways, and even doggie obstacle and luring courses.

You can RSVP for the event on Facebook, but you can also just stop by when it's convenient for you. No RSVP is required. I look forward to seeing you there!

If you're interested in helping to recognize Pride Month in Fairfax, check out these resources and upcoming events!

As I pointed out during our meeting, gun violence is not an intractable problem. In fact, states that have failed to enact common-sense gun safety reforms like those in yesterday's resolutions have gun violence death rates more than eight times higher than those that have. These policies are working to save lives and protect the rights of law-abiding gun owners in many states across the country.

Supervisor James Walkinshaw

The event will begin at 1:00 p.m. and end at 4:00 p.m. this Sunday, June 12.

Parking is available at the Heming Avenue Entrance to Lake Accotink Park:

The main topic for this month will be the election of officers for 2022 - 2023: Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary. To join the Braddock District Council Zoom meeting or if you would like to be considered for one of the positions, please request the link from and submit an interest statement to George Becerra at george_becerra@hotmail.com.

The Fairfax Area Agency on Aging and the Fairfax Caregiver Seminar Consortium invite you to join their upcoming webinar, Caring for a Loved One with Cancer on Wednesday, June 15, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Information about the I-495 Southside Express Lanes study can be found on VDOT's 495 Southside website.

VDOT, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration and other federal, state and local agencies in Virginia and Maryland, is conducting an environmental study on potentially extending the express lanes system on the southern section of I-95/I-495 (Capital Beltway) by 11 miles from the Springfield interchange (I-95/I-395/I-495) in Fairfax County, Virginia, across the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge, to the MD 210 interchange in Prince George’s County, Maryland. This location was identified in the Commonwealth Transportation Board’s adopted I-95 Corridor Improvement Plan as an area for additional study.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has updated Supervisor Walkinshaw's office on the studies and analysis being conducted at the Guinea Road/Olley Lane/Harford Lane intersection.

Based on the recent evaluation, VDOT Traffic Engineering will implement additional pedestrian safety improvements at the intersection. VDOT stated that the improvements will include:

• Installation of additional pedestrian crossing signage in the median at the marked crosswalk

• Relocation of Intersection Warning sign on the eastbound approach for reduced maintenance related to vegetative trimming/ improved visibility

• Speed Advisory panels on Intersection Warning signs will be reduced from 25 MPH to 20MPH

• Installation of reflective strips on the warning sign posts on Guinea Road on each approach, and at the intersection

• Trimming of vegetation along Guinea Road on each approach and at the intersection to improve overall sight lines

• Installation of a pavement marking extension of the concrete median nose on the westbound approach to help create a buffer between pedestrians/ motorists

• Installation of SLOW text marking in advance of exiting PED XING markings on both approaches *

• Installation of additional SLOW PED XING markings on both approaches closer to the existing high-visibility crosswalk *

VDOT has not yet indicated when installation of these modifications will begin. We understand there may be some delays due to the availability of materials. VDOT Traffic Engineering is continuing to look at other potential safety measures for this location, which will take additional time given the scope of the assessment.

Immigration: Rights & Updates | Today 3:00-4:30 p.m. | Register Here

• This session is for members of the immigrant community. It will provide an overview of changes in the immigration system, including asylum, prosecutorial discretion (dismissal of immigration cases in immigration court), and work permits. The presentation will be in English first (3:00-3:45) and then Spanish (3:45-4:30), and will be livestreamed on Facebook with a playback option if you missed it live. Please note: They will not be able to provide individual legal advice during this presentation. Register here!

June 21 is the Democratic Party primary only for the 8^th Congressional District of Virginia. Following the 2020 Census, some changes were made to the congressional districts in Fairfax County. In the Braddock District, the North Springfield and Heritage precincts were drawn into the 8^th District.

There is no Republican primary in Fairfax County. The Republican Party nominated its congressional candidates by convention.

If you are unsure of what congressional district you vote in, you can find it on this interactive map. The County sent a mailer with your new precinct, polling place, and districts for U.S. Congress, Virginia State Senate, and Virginia House of Delegates last week.

For information about voting early in person or by mail, visit the Fairfax Office of Elections website. Regular polling places in the 8^th District will be open on Primary Day June 21 from 6:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

The Fairfax County Government Center will be open for 8^th Congressional District Democratic Primary voting weekdays 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. from now through June 17, and Saturdays (June 11 & 18) 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

National Night Out is back! This will be an in-person event on August 2 and the Fairfax County Police Department is looking forward to meeting with everyone again, and maybe some new people too!

Whether your community hosts a simple ice cream party or an all-out festival, National Night Out is an opportunity to gather with your neighbors, get better acquainted, and talk about issues of common concern.

It’s an opportunity:

• for fun, food and fellowship in your community

• to get to know your Police and Public Safety Team

• to heighten crime prevention awareness

• to send the message that your neighborhood is organized against crime

Complete this form to register for the event (if you registered with the NNO organization directly, you still need to register with this form. They do not share your personal information). If there are any questions, feel free to reach out to the Crime Prevention Officer of your local police station.

If you are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19, effective treatment is now available that can prevent illness from becoming worse leading to hospitalization and death.

Additionally, with increasing COVID-19 cases across Northern Virginia, residents should consider both testing and masking more frequently. Testing is important as prevention because those who are positive should stay home and away from others (isolate), reducing the chance of spreading infection to others in one’s family, to co-workers, or to people in the community.

Please be sure to check the Fairfax County Health Department’s vaccine page and the Emergency Information Blog frequently, as information will be updated there regularly.

The federal government, utility companies, and the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC), have increased support for energy efficiency and weatherization programs. The U.S. Department of Energy last month announced a $3 billion investment in the federal Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) to support lower income households. This is the country’s largest whole-house energy efficiency program and helps to reduce utility costs and make efficiency upgrades for low-income households. Most major Virginia utilities now offer energy efficiency programs for age and income qualifying households as well. Programs serve renters and homeowners across Northern Virginia, with WAP reducing utility bills by around 20%. But programs remain underutilized.

Community Housing Partners (CHP) Energy Solutions is the largest Weatherization Assistance Program provider in Virginia, and the WAP provider for Northern Virginia. CHP Energy Solutions helps income and age qualifying households reduce energy costs by improving the energy efficiency and health of their homes – all at no cost to the homeowner, renter, or landlord. Using the federal Weatherization Assistance Program, and in collaboration with gas and electric utility partners, CHP Energy Solutions has served 10,000 homes in Northern Virginia over the past decade. But there is more work to be done. 

Improving the energy efficiency of our houses, apartments, manufactured homes, and multi-family properties will be an essential piece in addressing the climate and housing challenges facing Northern Virginians. Households interested in applying for weatherization programs can fill out a brief screening form on the CHP Energy Solutions website, or give them a call at 888-229-3714.

Read the full NVRC article here.

The 2022 Elly Doyle Park Service Awards will give the Park Authority a chance to recognize their amazing volunteers and they need your help! Please consider submitting one (or more!) nomination for these awards that will recognize volunteers for all that they do. Click here for more information on the awards program and the nomination form. 

This year’s nominations are due by Friday, June 17. For more information or for alternative formats of the application, please contact the Public Information Office at (703) 324-8662 or via ParkMail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

• Scan the QR code Click “New to VRE? Request a Free Ride”