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June 17, 2026

“Freedom is not a state; it is an act,” the late civil rights activist and Congressman John Lewis said in his memoir Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America.

“It is not some enchanted garden perched high on a distant plateau where we can finally sit down and rest. Freedom is the continuous action we all must take, and each generation must do its part to create an even more fair, more just society.”

As we get ready to celebrate Juneteenth, this holiday reminds us that our nation’s march to freedom has been uneven, unequal — and as Lewis says achieved through action.

This newest federal holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay to announce the freedom of enslaved people in Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect. Liberation took 1,800 Union troops to make it a reality.

However, the struggle for freedom, civil rights, and equity has continued long after the Civil War — and it’s still ongoing today.

We can all collectively act by remembering, reflecting and celebrating our nation’s struggle for freedom, and here are some ways you can do so:

• Attend a free discussion with author Gayle Jessup White this Saturday at the Vienna Community Center. A descendent of both Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings’ brother, she’ll discuss her memoir “Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant’s Search for Her Family’s Lasting Legacy.” This event is sponsored by the Vienna 250 Committee.
• Visit Mount Vernon on Friday and Saturday to learn how enslaved people sought freedom before the Emancipation Proclamation.
• Take a tour of the Frying Pan Baptist Meeting House to learn about the history of the free and enslaved African American congregants and community.
• Commemorate the holiday on Friday at Sully Historic Site, a former 18^th century plantation. Enjoy stories, family activities, food and guided tours.
• Eat at a Black-owned restaurant in Fairfax County including Big Buns, Matchbox and Makers Union in Reston or Pie Gourmet in Vienna. (Or try some of these restaurants in Alexandria and D.C.)

Regards,

Walter

• Fairway Drive Speed Humps Approved
• Early Voting Begins for GOP Congressional Primaries
• Lake Fairfax Business Center Redevelopment Open House June 22
• Lake Anne Comprehensive Plan Amendment Meeting June 25
• Grow Smarter, Not Harder Business Seminar
• What's News in Vienna
• Events and Activities

Two humps will be placed across from Reston Association’s ballfields and tennis courts, and a third will be located near Waterhaven Court. (View map below.) The humps will have cut-outs to allow public safety vehicles to pass through more quickly. 

Why it matters: The county’s speed study conducted found that 82% of drivers exceeded the 25 mph speed limit — with 3.45% going more than 55 mph.

• Speed humps slowed drivers on the eastern portion of the road where two were previously installed (between Beaver Circle and Shagbark Circle). These humps reduced speeds by 10-12%, according to the county’s speed study following their installation. They also prevented drivers from reaching reckless speeds on this residential street; the study reported no cars traveling 55 mph or greater.
• Lower speed limits help to keep walkers, bikers and drivers safe. In fact, many studies have shown that even small reductions in speed can significantly decrease pedestrian injuries and death. When a pedestrian is struck by a car at 20 mph, there’s an 18% risk of severe injury, according to a recent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study. At 30 mph, this risk increases to 50%. At 40 mph, it rises to 81%.

What’s next: Now that the community has voted to approve the humps, the Board of Supervisors will formally endorse the traffic calming plan so it can be sent to the Virginia Department of Transportation. The county’s Department of Transportation will then work in the coming weeks to schedule installation of the humps.

Background: Community members approached me with their concerns about speeding on Fairway Drive, and I worked with them to initiate the county’s traffic-calming process. To kick off this most recent traffic calming initiative along Fairway Drive, I convened an informational meeting with their community task force in October 2025, and the task force held a formally required public meeting, as well as distributed ballots that were sent to my office.

Want humps? If you have concerns about speeding or traffic issues, please contact Shyamali Hauth in my office by email or call 703-476-0283, TTY 711. The county provides a variety of ways to help neighborhoods deal with traffic issues from “Watch for Children” signs to speed humps.

Early Voting Begins Thursday for

Republican Congressional Primaries

What’s happening: Early voting begins tomorrow, Thursday, June 18 for congressional primary elections. For voters who live in the Hunter Mill District, there’s a Republican primary for U.S. House of Representatives, 11^th District and U.S. Senate.

There are no Democratic primaries for the 11^th Congressional District or U.S. Senate. (Outside the Hunter Mill District, there’s also a Democratic primary for the 8^th Congressional District, and GOP primaries for the 8^th and 10^th districts.)



• View a sample ballot for GOP House (11^th District) and Senate primary

Voting dates, times and locations: Early voting runs from tomorrow through Saturday, Aug. 1.

There are three early voting locations that will be open through July 25, including the North County Governmental Center, 1801 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston (across from the Reston Regional Library.)

At the North County Governmental Center, you may cast your ballot early on:

• Weekdays: 1- 7 p.m.
• Two Saturdays (July 25 & Aug. 1 only): 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Two Sundays (July 19 & 26 only): noon to 5 p.m.

Please note that all early voting sites will be closed on the two upcoming federal holidays:

• Friday, June 19 for Juneteenth
• Friday, July 3 for Independence Day

Starting July 25, an additional 13 early voting locations across the county will open. Election Day is Tuesday, Aug. 4, and every polling place will be open that day.

What’s happening: Come learn about the redevelopment proposal for Lake Fairfax Business Center at an open house:

🗓️Monday, June 22

🕖 7 p.m.

📍 Homewood Suites, 1735 Business Center Drive

Developer EYA will be there to chat with you and answer your questions.

New homes proposed: EYA proposes to remake this largely vacant office park into an up to 1.9 million square foot residential community. The proposal calls for creating:

🏢 a 385-unit apartment building

🏢 three condo buildings with 132 units and

🏠 501 townhomes (both detached and stacked).

The office center sits north of Sunset Hills Road along the intersection with Business Center Drive, and the redevelopment would encompass 49-acres within the overall office park.

What’s happening: Attend my town hall meeting to learn more about the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment to allow the Reston Community Center to be included in the redevelopment of the Crescent Apartments.

🗓️Thursday, June 25

🕡6:30 p.m.

📍Reston Community Center Lake Anne, 1609A Washington Plaza, Reston

Reston Community Center representatives will discuss their proposal, and this meeting is your chance to voice your opinion to them, other county officials and myself.

Background: I initiated this amendment during a Board of Supervisors meeting last month, and it would increase the allowable non-residential space to 30,000 square feet on the land where the Crescent Apartments are located. Under the Comprehensive Plan’s current base guidance, non-residential uses are limited to 2,000 square feet at this site.

Even though this amendment proposes the maximum square footage for a public facility use, a future community center’s size isn’t predetermined. Nor have redevelopment plans for the Crescent been drawn up yet.

What’s happening: Attend this June 24 seminar with small business experts to learn about local, state and federal programs and opportunities to grow your business.

Sponsored by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, the event will be held at their offices at 1886 Metro Center Drive, Suite 150, Reston.

Register: The seminar is free for chamber members, and $20 for non-members. Register now.

Summer on the Green Concert Tonight

Enjoy kid-approved band Rocknocerous at tonight’s free Summer on the Green concert from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Vienna Town Green, 144 Maple Street, East. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, but no alcohol or pets, please.

In case of inclement weather, call the Town's weather line for updates on whether the concert will be canceled: 703-255-7842. Weather cancelation decisions are generally made between 4 to 5 p.m. on the day of the event.

Southside Park Habitat Restoration June 22

Help remove invasive plants at Southside Park on Monday, June 22 from 10 a.m. to noon. The park is located at 1317 Ross Dr. SW, and meet up at the Ware-Walker entrance. Advance sign-up is appreciated but not required. To sign up or for more information, email Jeremy Edwards or call 571-722-7005. 

🥁Nationally acclaimed jazz drummer Steve Fidyk performs June 19 at Reston Town Square Park.

🏄Enjoy good vibrations with Still Surfin’ a Beach Boys tribute band on June 19 at Reston Station.

💪Register for Barre Class for Beginners on June 20 at Mindshift Gym.

🎸Attend the Punk Punk N’ Roll- Live Music Benefit Show for Arts Herndon on June 20.

🐎Listen to band America on their “The Happy Tails Tour 2026” on June 20 at Capital One Hall.

📖Vienna250 presents Gayle Jessup White discussing her memoir “Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy” on June 20 at Vienna Community Center.

🎸Rock out with the Pat McGee Band on June 20 at Reston Town Center.

🎞️Watch “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” on June 20 at Reston Station.

🪘The Luis Hernandez & Fran Vielma Pan American Quartet play Afro-Cuban inspired compositions on June 21 at Reston Station.

🎭Watch NextStop Theatre’s performance of “Once” through June 21.

✍🏿 Take a facilitated, virtual journaling workshop starting June 24 through Reston Regional Library.

🎞️Watch “Now You See Me, Now You Don't” on Senior Movie Day on June 24 at LOOK Cinemas at Reston Town Center.

🎶Unwind with Togolese music by DOGO du Togo on June 25 at Halley Rise.

🎵Listen to Mamma Mania!, Abba tribute band, on June 26 at Reston Station.

🎤 Vocalist Gracie Jay sings on June 26 at Reston Town Square Park.

🎉Marvel at a spectacular drone light show in celebration of America’s 250^th anniversary on June 27 at Lake Fairfax Park.

🎲Join Game Night with artist Janet Loren Hill on June 27 at Tephra ICA.

🎸Reston‑based RDGLDGRN takes the stage on June 27 at Reston Town Center.

🪡Learn Sashiko, a Japanese form of stitching and embroidery, on June 27 at Oakton Library.

🕺Take a trip to see Riverdance on June 27 at Wolf Trap. 

📻 Observe the Vienna Wireless Club’s off-grid radio communications demo on June 27-28 at Burke Lake Park.

🪉Listen to a showcase of harp music from classical to rock on June 28 at Reston Town Square Park.

🌙Take a Moon Lamp Workshop on June 28 at Caboose Tavern in Vienna.

🎶Join Shrek Jr. Summer Musical Theatre Camp starting June 28 at Herndon United Methodist Church.

🎆Join Vienna’s Independence Day celebration on July 2 in Yeonas Park.

🎸Attend Bruce in the Park with fireworks afterwards on July 2 at Reston Station.

🎸Wear your raspberry beret to Prince Project on July 3 at Reston Station.

📻Watch “The Sandlot” on July 4 at Reston Sation.

🪗Cajun comes to Reston Town Square Park when Zack Smith & The Mardi Gras Kings perform on July 4.

🎺Winchester Jazz Collective plays New-Orleans jazz and funk on July 5 at Reston Town Square Park.

🎸Yeah, yeah, yeah, Beatlemania Now comes to Reston Staton on July 10.

🎼Join the Reston Community Orchestra for Open Summer Reading Sessions starting July 6 at Reston Community Center.

Find all events for these local organizations: Reston Community Center, Town of Vienna Parks and Recreation Programs, Tephra ICA and Arts Fairfax. Find other community events in the Reston Letter.