Dear Neighbor,
I hope you are enjoying this holiday season and finding time to spend with loved ones.
I held my holiday open house earlier this week and I loved seeing many of you there. Thank you for making the time out of your busy day to chat with me, meet my team, and mingle with your neighbors.
This week is also the first week of our winter coat drive. Thank you to all who have donated new and gently used winter gear. If you have donations, you can drop them off at the Providence Community Center or at Tysons Corner Center. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
Lastly, I want to wish you and your loved ones a wonderful and safe holiday season, and a very happy new year!
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You can read about the following Providence District updates:
- Health and Human Services Updates
- Winter Safety
- Election Information
- Donation Drives
- Green Corner
- Consolidated Community Funding Pool Feedback
- Land Use and Transportation Updates
- Upcoming Events
With gratitude,
Supervisor Dalia Palchik
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Health and Human Services Update |
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Updated COVID-19 Vaccines Now Available for Children as Young as 6 Months |
The Health Department also reminds residents to continue to keep up the healthy habits that will prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses like flu and RSV.
As a reminder, COVID-19 information for Fairfax Health District residents is available on the Health Department’s webpage.
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Hypothermia Prevention Program |
The Hypothermia Prevention Program is currently operating through March 31. This program provides shelter to our most vulnerable residents during the winter months. If you see someone who is unsheltered and you think is at risk of hypothermia, please contact our non-emergency public safety phone number at 703-691-2131.
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Caregiving Over the Holidays |
December can be challenging for many family caregivers, as it marks the beginning of winter and the start of different holiday celebrations. During this time, it is common for people to feel the pressure of hosting dinner parties, preparing special dishes, decorating, buying gifts, or traveling to visit family and friends. If you are feeling the stress of the holidays, here are some tips to help you take care of yourself.
Remember that the holiday season only lasts a few weeks, and if you are feeling overwhelmed, call the Aging, Disability, & Caregiver Resource Line and request to be transferred to the Virtual Friendly Visitor Program to talk to a volunteer about lighthearted topics, as well as share journeys/stories. To learn more, call 703-324-7948, TTY 711, or visit FairfaxCounty.gov/familyservices/older-adults.
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Oak Marr Child Care Room Opening in the New Year |
Are you having trouble finding time for a workout because there’s no one to watch the kids? The Oak Marr Rec Center can help remove that barrier with the opening of its childcare room beginning Jan. 2, 2023!
Parents and guardians will be able to drop off their children for up to two hours while they get in a workout, take a dip in the pool, or enjoy any of the center’s diverse programming options. Childcare staff are CPR and First Aid certified and provide a variety of activities, games, and crafts to keep children moving, playing, and making new friends.
The childcare room serves children from ages 3 months to 10 years old. The enrollment fee is $3 for the first child and $1.50 for each additional child from the same family with a two-hour time limit. Space is limited and service is provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. The room will operate Monday through Saturday with the following schedule:
- Monday – Thursday: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.; 4 to 8 p.m.
- Saturday: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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As you may know, Fairfax County does NOT remove snow from most roads. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has that responsibility in nearly every Virginia county.
The County's Guide to Snow website is your comprehensive place to get key information such as VDOT snow removal information (and plow tracker), weather forecast, and County status.
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Early voting is ongoing for the January 10 special election for the Virginia House of Delegates 35th District. This seat is currently vacant after former Del. Mark Keam resigned in early September. This election will be held using the old district boundaries prior to redistricting. More information and a list of voting locations can be found here.
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Providence District Winter Gear Drive |
My office has partnered with the Providence Community Center, Tysons Community Alliance, and local HOAs to collect new and lightly used winter coats, hats, and gloves of all sizes. This drive will run through Thursday, January 19th. Donations can be dropped off at the Providence Community Center and Tysons Corner Center. More drop-off locations will be posted here as they become available.
For questions or more information, please email [email protected] or call 703-560-6946.
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The Winter Warming Service Project |
The annual Fairfax County Senior Centers’ Winter Warming Service Project collects new or handmade hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves for adults, children, and infants in Fairfax County. Donated items are given to local nonprofit organizations including Cornerstones, ShelterHouse, and HumanKind Foster Care. These community partners distribute the items to the communities they serve, including adults and families experiencing homelessness. Donations of new or handmade items and yarn can be made now through Jan. 6 at all 14 NCS Senior Centers in Fairfax County; look for the donation box in the entry/lobby.
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Recycling During the Holiday Season |
There are simply a lot more recyclable items during the holiday season. Items such as paper holiday cards, gift bags/boxes, and electronics are more abundant. There may be more food scraps following large holiday dinners, as well as single-use items like cups (not recyclable), paper plates, and plastic utensils.
When possible, electronics are refurbished and/or resold. In some cases, electronics are disassembled, sorted by material (metals, plastics, glass, etc.), and sold on the recyclables market. Hazardous components, such as leaded glass in certain computer monitors or TVs, are removed and sent for proper recovery and recycling in a permitted hazardous waste facility. E-Waste doesn't go in your curbside recycling. Drop them off at either of these locations instead:
- I-66 TRANSFER STATION: 4618 West Ox Road
- I-95 LANDFILL COMPLEX: 9850 Furnace Road
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The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) is joining with the Community Engagement Campaign’s regional water utilities to hold its second annual Source Water Protection Art Contest. Local student artists, grades 9 – 12, can submit their art which captures the importance of protecting our local water sources for a chance to win a prize.
Create art that portrays positive messages focused on our local sources of water. Regional water utilities would like to feature artwork in their outreach materials and messaging campaigns. These may include social media, posters, brochures, notecards, and annual reports.
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Homeowners can now receive a 30% federal tax credit for installing rooftop solar panels. This is a great opportunity for those who have sunny roofs. But is it worth cutting down trees next to your house to do that? Here is a discussion of the various considerations.
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Avoid the fine, don’t let running bamboo grow beyond your property line. |
In March of 2022, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors passed the new running bamboo ordinance that goes into effect on January 1, 2023. It will be enforced by the Department of Code Compliance on an individual complaint basis.
The ordinance requires that:
- A bamboo owner must not allow running bamboo to spread from the bamboo owner’s property to any public right-of-way or any adjoining property not owned by the bamboo owner.
- A bamboo owner must contain the running bamboo to keep it from spreading onto any public right‑of‑way or adjoining property not owned by the bamboo owner.
If a bamboo owner fails to comply with a Notice of Violation, each day that running bamboo remains uncontained may result in a civil penalty of $50, up to a maximum of $2,000 in a 12‑month period. Property owners may incur additional penalties if they allow bamboo to spread to other adjacent properties which are not their own.
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Consolidated Community Funding Pool Feedback |
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The community is invited to provide feedback on the Consolidated Community Funding Pool (CCFP) to help identify targeted community needs categories. The CCFP is a competitive funding process for human services programs developed and administered by nonprofits and community-based organizations.
The funding allocated to organizations through the CCFP serves as an investment and catalyst for strengthening the human services network of programs available for Fairfax County residents. Take the survey (open through January 3rd) here.
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Land Use and Transportation Updates |
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Parking Reimagined Feedback |
The county’s Parking Reimagined project is now in its final phase of community engagement and we want to hear from you! Recommended changes to the county’s off-street parking and loading requirements have been released for public comment. The recommendations include:
- Modernized parking rates to incorporate right-sizing for land uses
- A tiered rate framework that is tailored to planned land use density and intensity
- New minimum bicycle parking requirements
- Updates to off-street loading requirements
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Thursday, Jan. 5, 7-8 p.m. on Zoom
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Thursday, Jan. 12, 7-8 p.m. on Zoom
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Update on Work Near Scott's Run Nature Preserve |
As part of the 495 NEXT project, some construction activities must occur in a narrow area of the Fairfax County Park Authority’s Scott’s Run Nature Preserve, adjacent to the Georgetown Pike off-ramp. Crews began removing trees and other vegetation in this area (only to the extent necessary for construction) in November 2022. Following this activity, the area will be regraded, restabilized and revegetated using native seed mix.
To address impacts at the Scott’s Run Nature Preserve, a new park area will be constructed adjacent to the Georgetown Pike interchange, as part of the 495 NEXT project. Located approximately one-third of a mile from the Preserve, this new area will provide additional parking, connect to the new three-mile regional trail that is being built across and adjacent to the Capital Beltway as part of the project, and provide other amenities. These improvements will provide easier, safer access to Scott’s Run and points south.
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Traveling Players' Acting Camps & Conservatories |
Day Camps (grades 2-4):
This one-week acting camp is designed to introduce children to the wonderful world of theatre. Acting, improvisation, and stage combat are taught in a fun, relaxed environment. Campers perform scenes and improvs at the Showcase performance on Friday afternoon. Learn more about Day Camp here.
Sleepaway Camps & Residential Conservatories (grades 4-12):
This is Traveling Players’ 21st summer of creating theatre, friendships, and memories — with the best people: theatrical teens and pre-teens! You could live in a lodge at their sleepaway acting camp & residential conservatory program. Their beloved directors and teaching artists are ready to take you on an artistic adventure! Learn more about Summer Camp here.
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More Than Just Volunteering: From Transaction to Community Transformation |
As we prepare to honor and celebrate the 37th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we take an opportunity to reflect on ways our community can use volunteering as a way to transform a community.
On January 11th at 10am, Breauna Dorelus, Chief Cause Consultant of Connecting the Cause, will discuss how to strategically take a stereotypical volunteer opportunity (a transaction) and move it to one that can transform a volunteer and a community. Following this keynote presentation, we will have a panel of leaders who have embraced and succeeded in their transformational work share their experiences.
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Polar Plunge is back at Mosaic! Gather your friends (and your nerves) and go all in for Special Olympics Virginia on Saturday, January 14th. Take the plunge with several hundred of the coolest Special Olympics supporters in Northern VA! There will be cool incentives and a costume contest for the fanciest plungers!
Never taken the plunge? It just might be the coolest thing you ever do! The water might be a little chilly, but the only thing you’ll feel is great. It’s a big day of feel-good fun for an even greater cause.
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Saturday Sensations Registration |
Registration for Saturday Sensations at the Providence Community Center for January is now open. Classes will open Friday for January 7th, 21st, and 28th. Spots fill up quickly!
Registration for February classes begin Monday, January 16th.
As a reminder, please bring socks with you for each appointment.
Please see flyer for class times or call: 703-865-0520 for more information and to register.
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We want to hear from you! Please reach out to us with questions, comments or just to say hello. Please feel free to email us with events you would like to be included in my newsletter.
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