October 13, 2023

As an occasional pickleball player and Chairman of the Sports Tourism Task Force, I wanted to bring you up to speed on my efforts to secure additional pickleball courts in the county including the approval of two new courts at Rolling Valley Park, the evaluation of several other sites in the Springfield District, funding issues, and Pickleball as a sports tourism opportunity.

I am happy to report good news that the Park Authority approved my request to add two pickleball courts to Rolling Valley Park with the goal of eventually converting the temporary courts to full time pickleball courts. Since there is no Park funding available for the new courts, I will be funding it from my office budget. I worked with Pickleball Ambassador Ron Tugwell in getting the first courts at Rolling Valley Park approved as well as the Park Authority’s 2021 Pickleball Study. While the study identified some locations for pickleball courts, the rapid growth of the sport in the last two years has created an even greater need to identify additional locations. 

Working with the Park Authority, I have identified a number of sites for additional Pickleball courts that meet the distance requirements from homes. Some of these courts could be built in short order but the Park Authority indicates there is no funding for the projects. In fact, it desperately needs funds for basic park maintenance like emergency tree removal and mowing. In my September newsletter, I shared with you how earlier this year I asked the Board to devote $5 million to the Parks maintenance budget and again advocated for additional funding as part of budget carryover. While the Board of Supervisors approves funding for the Park Authority, the Park Authority has control over its spending decisions. I have also questioned the effectiveness of the over $3M in spending on their Board’s Zero Waste efforts when we cannot fund the needs of our residents. I strongly support more County funding for Park operations that directly impact resident services, like park maintenance, tourist revenue generating sports tourism facilities and new pickleball courts.  

Pickleball is included in the Sports Tourism Task Force efforts to find a location for multicourt indoor hardcourt surfaces and an indoor track. We are awaiting the results of the Request for Information (RFI) for sports tourism facilities and am hopeful that a hardcourt and indoor track proposal that makes sense is included in the responses. These improvements would be funded through a public private partnership.

I am continuing to work with the Park Authority to meet the demand for more pickleball courts and look forward to updating you on our progress. 

Lorton Animal Shelter/Police Station Grand Opening Oct. 28^th

On October 28^th at 10 a.m. the County is hosting a ribbon-cutting and Open House celebration for the opening of the new co-located Lorton Animal Shelter and Police Station. The facility will provide much needed space relief for the Fairfax Animal Shelter with 42 cat condos, 44 dog kennels, and a 20,000-sqaure foot outdoor space. In addition to the shelter, the police station will provide service for Springfield district residents living in the southeastern part of the district. At the Open House, you can meet the new Lorton Station Captain Richard Morvillo and take a tour of the new state-of-the-art facility. More details are in the flyer below.

Burke-Springfield Center for Active Adults Engagement Meetings



After a several year search for a suitable temporary location, County staff have been able to secure a temporary location for the Burke-Springfield Center for Active Adults at the site of the former Dress Barn at Huntsman Square. It took quite a while to come to an agreement with Giant, the neighboring business, on the terms of the design of the space. We are now in the process of creating the plans for design and buildout of the temporary location to make sure the location meets County standards and the needs of senior center and community programming.

While this is a temporary site, it is critically important for our seniors and community to have a consistent space to utilize until the permanent location is finalized. The process of finding a space suitable for developing a permanent Springfield Community Resource Center has been ongoing for years. The permanent facility is slated for the Fall 2026 bond after being delayed for multiple reasons, including the pandemic. In the meantime, I worked with staff to find a temporary facility that can serve the ongoing needs of our seniors and community while we get the funding approved by the voters and find the best location for the permanent facility.

In late October, County staff will be hosting an informational meeting as well as two engagement meetings to solicit feedback from residents on the programming and utilization of the Burke-Springfield Center for Active Adults temporary location. Your feedback is very important as we move into the next planning step for the senior center, so I encourage you to mark your calendars and attend the meetings. See the meeting details in the graphic below. If you are unable to attend, you can still submit feedback by emailing my office at springfieldbos@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Virtual Information Session:

Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 12:30PM

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/2336778277

Engagement Meetings:

Friday, October 20, 2023 at 1PM

Pohick Regional Library

6450 Sydenstricker Road, Burke, VA 22015

Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 6:30PM

Sangster Elementary School

7420 Reservation Drive, Springfield, VA 22153

For more information on the sessions, see here. More details to come on both the temporary and permanent facilities.

Other News and Information

• Early Voting is Ongoing
• Lord & Lady Fairfax for Springfield District
• FCPD Trunk-or-Treat! (Oct 18^th)
• 2023 Martha Glennan Award Nomination (Oct 20^th)
• 2^nd Annual Mason Space Day (Oct 22^nd)
• ECHO Charity Night @ Bonefish Grill (Oct 25^th)
• Fairfax’s Finest Donation Drive and Awards Ceremony (Oct 27^th)

Enjoyed a few early morning pickleball games with the Rolling Valley Pickleball Players. Although I did not get "pickled," I appreciate the small jar of pickles from the players.

Enjoyed seeing new and familiar faces while passing out Tootsie Pops at the Centreville Homecoming Parade.

Great turnout at Clifton Day this year! I hope to see you all back in Clifton for the Haunted Trail on October 29th.

Thank you to The Magic Trio for playing an amazing show at our Fall Free Concert in the Park and thank you to everyone who came out! I look forward to seeing you all next summer!

On October 18^th, join me for the 4^th Annual FCPD Trunk-or-Treat in the Parking Lot of the Fairfax County Government Center (12000 Government Center Parkway).

It starts at 6pm and lasts until 8pm. My office will be hosting a spot and looks forward to passing out candy and talking with you!

Early Voting is Ongoing

If you live in Fairfax County, early voting for the November 7^th elections is ongoing at three early voting locations. Thirteen additional early voting locations will open on October 26^th and Election Day is November 7^th. See the information below from the Office of Elections, including a list of early voting locations. Please pay special attention to the hours of operation for each location as they vary: 

On the ballot for November 7^th: 

• State offices: Senator, House of Delegates member; Commonwealth’s Attorney.
• County offices: Board of Supervisors Chairman and Board members; Clerk of the Court; Sheriff; School Board members; Soil and Water Conservation District members.

You can confirm your voting precinct using the Department of Elections Citizen Portal to check your voter record. For information on redistricting see the Office of Elections FAQs.  

• Any registered Fairfax County voter may vote early at any Fairfax County early voting location. ONLY Fairfax County registered voters can vote at a Fairfax County Early Voting location.
• In-person early voting is available for the November 7, 2023, General Election from September 22 to November 4 according to the schedule below. Three locations will be open beginning September 22 and the remaining locations open on October 28^th.
• If you received a ballot in the mail, but prefer to vote early in person, you must bring it with you and surrender it to vote in person
• Curbside voting is available for eligible voters
• Dropboxes are available during satellite operating hours
• Email earlyvoting@fairfaxcounty.gov with questions about early voting
• Download an early voting info sheet and schedule to post on bulletin boards.
• Check your precinct. Due to redistricting and precinct changes, voters should double check their precinct through Citizen Portal.
• For more information on voting as well as voter registration, see here.

SEPTEMBER 22 - NOVEMBER 4

Fairfax County Government Center

12000 Government Center Pkwy

Fairfax 22035

Conference Rooms 2/3

Weekdays: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Saturdays (Sept. 23, Oct. 28, Nov. 4): 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sunday (Oct. 29): 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. 

Mt. Vernon Governmental Center

2511 Parkers Lane Alexandria, 22306

Weekdays: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Saturdays (Sept. 23, Oct. 28, Nov. 4): 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sunday (Oct. 29): 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

North County Governmental Center

1801 Cameron Glen Drive Reston, 20190

Weekdays: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Saturdays (Sept. 23, Oct. 28, Nov. 4): 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sunday (Oct. 29): 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

OCTOBER 26 - NOVEMBER 4

Weekdays: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Saturdays (October 28, November 4): 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sunday (October 29): 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Burke Centre Library

5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke 22015

Centreville Regional Library

14200 St. Germain Drive, Centreville 20121

Franconia Governmental Center

6121 Franconia Rd, Alexandria 22310

Great Falls Library

9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls 22066

Herndon-Fortnightly Library

768 Center Street, Herndon 20170

Lorton Community Center

9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton 22079

Mason Governmental Center

6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale 22003

McLean Governmental Center

1437 Balls Hill Rd, McLean 22101

Providence Community Center

3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax 22031

Sully Governmental Center

4900 Stonecroft Boulevard, Chantilly 20151

Thomas Jefferson Library

7415 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church 22042

Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library

7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church 22043

West Springfield Governmental Center

6140 Rolling Road, Springfield 22152

Lord and Lady Fairfax for the Springfield District

Congratulations to Rob Hahne and Cathy Turner on being named Lord and Lady Fairfax for Springfield District. 

Rob Hahne is the Executive Director of the Northern Virginia Travel Baseball League and served 10 years as the Head Coach at Westfield HS where he was the Washington Post Coach of the Year in 2019. He serves on several boards including the Youth Chair of the American Baseball Coaches Association, the Chairman of the Fairfax County Baseball Council, and the founder of the American Travel Baseball Alliance. Rob is a member of the Fairfax County Sports Tourism Task Force and helped with the development of baseball facilities throughout the County, including the county's first sports tourism facility Patriot Park North and Capital One Park. He is the founder of Kyle’s Kamp, an organization raising millions for cancer research at Children’s National Hospital.

Cathleen Turner was elected as the President of the Saratoga Homeowners’ Association in 2013, serving in that role currently. Cathy volunteers her time for this self-managed association. During her tenure, she rewrote the Articles of Incorporation, Declaration of Covenants, and Bylaws. She set up joint quarterly meetings with 3 boards (TOSCA, SRG, SCA), revamped walking trails, started an annual Community Day, implemented seasonal events for children and an End of School Year Ice Cream Day. In addition, she worked with the county to get bus stops in front of the Saratoga Shopping Center and joined the glass recycling program. Due to an emergency HOA meeting and her spirit of service, Cathy was unable to attend and asked Paul Perrone, a fellow HOA member, to accept the award on her behalf.

Thank you for your outstanding service to the residents of the Springfield District and Fairfax County! For the full list of nominees and to watch the award presentation, see here.

ECHO Charity Night at Bonefish Grill on October 25^th

Ecumenical Community Helping Others (ECHO) has been doing incredible work in the Burke-Springfield community since 1969. Leadership and the support team are led by volunteers dedicated to service in the community. Whether it is providing school supplies to children, CROP walks to address hunger in the community, hosting food pantries and much more. To support these efforts, they rely on donations for their day-to-day operations.

On October 25^th from 4-9pm, Bonefish Grill (located at 5920 Kingstowne Towne Center in Alexandria) will commit a share of their proceeds to support ECHO. Those who attend do not require a flyer or register, so please attend and have a nice meal!

2^nd Annual Mason Space Day Blasts Off on October 22^nd

The 2^nd Annual Mason Space Day will blast off on Sunday, October 22, 2023 from 3-9pm on George Mason University’s Fairfax Campus. This free, family-friendly event offers an exciting and engaging opportunity to learn about the technology and science behind some of the leading aerospace projects in the area. All ages are invited to learn about the latest in space exploration from those on the front lines and explore space firsthand through a tour of Mason’s Observatory. 

2023 Martha Glennan Award Nominations Due October 20^th



Nominations for the 2023 Martha Glennan Awards are due on October 20^th by 5PM. This award is hosted by the Disability Services Board and honors the commitment of those who promote equal rights and community inclusion for people with disabilities in Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, or Falls Church. There are three possible award categories:

• Individual: Individual whose work has benefited the lives of persons with disabilities in the Fairfax area.
• Group: A business, non-profit, or organization that has worked to benefit the lives of persons with disabilities in the Fairfax area.
• Self-Advocate: Individual who has been a strong self-advocate or worked to better the lives of persons with disabilities in the Fairfax area.

Nominees may self-nominate or be nominated by another individual or organization. Awards may or may not be awarded for each category, depending on nominations received.

For more information on the award, the nomination form and the annual ceremony, please see here.

Fairfax’s Finest Donation Drive and Awards Ceremony Held on October 27^th

The Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce is hosting a donation drive to support our local police and fire departments. Fairfax’s Finest will be held on Friday, October 27^th in honor First Responders Day. I am glad to see organizations and community members work together to support our men and women who work to protect us each day. Donations will be dropped off and distributed between 1PM and 3PM.

Prior to the donation drive, the Chamber will also host its first annual Fairfax’s Finest Valor Awards, honoring law enforcement and first responders who serve in the City of Fairfax, the Fair Oaks District, Mason District, McLean District, and the West Springfield District. This is for acts between July 1^st, 2022 and June 30^th, 2023.

If you would like to see what items they will need and/or to contribute, click here. It will also have details for drop-off in case you’d like to bring other supplies not listed too. More information on the awards ceremony to come shortly.