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June 24, 2026

This July 4 we celebrate America’s 250^th anniversary, and you may enjoy our nation’s Semiquincentennial with special events across the region, including right here in the Hunter Mill District.

At Lake Fairfax Park this Saturday, June 27, witness the park’s first-ever drone light show instead of traditional fireworks. Watch hundreds of drones take flight into the night sky with synchronized music, motion and patriotic images, celebrating Fairfax County’s role in our nation’s story.

This free event runs from noon to 10 p.m., but parking is $20 when purchased online in advance (by June 26 at 11:59 p.m.) Or, buy a pass at the gate for $25. Pedestrians and cyclists enter free.

You’ll also enjoy food trucks, beer, family-friendly fun, and live music throughout the day, including the popular bands The Sonic Boom and The Reflex.

Don’t miss this spectacular experience that’s sponsored by the Fairfax County 250th Commission, Fairfax County Park Authority and Fairfax County Park Foundation.

Of course, Vienna will also hold their free, annual Independence Day celebration on Thursday, July 2, 2026, from 6 to 10 p.m. at Yeonas Park. This family friendly event features an exciting evening of live entertainment, food trucks and fireworks with Taiko Japanese Drums for kids, a small ensemble from the Vienna Community Band, and Latin pop-rock from Ocho de Bastos.

If you’re not headed to Lake Fairfax or Vienna, check out other fireworks displays in the area:

• June 27: McLean’s free fireworks show from 5 to 10 p.m. at Langley High School. There’s free parking on-site, plus shuttle buses from satellite parking spots.
• July 2: Take in tribute band Bruce in the Park followed by fireworks at Reston Station.
• July 4: Herndon’s free July 4 celebration at Bready Park starting at 6:30 p.m. Enjoy music, food and games before the fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

Regards,

Walter

• In the Community
• Reminder: Lake Anne Comprehensive Plan Amendment Town Hall Thursday
• Watch the Reston Town Center North Town Hall
• Fairfax Plans to Be “Penniless"
• Board of Supervisors Update
• Cathy Hudgins Community Center Advisory Council Members Sought
• What's News in Vienna
• Events and Activities

Reston Town Center North Town Hall Replay

If you missed my town hall last week about Reston Town Center North, watch the replay online, and view the slide presentation. The joint rezoning application by Inova and Fairfax County will be considered by the Planning Commission on July 22. For the County portion of this proposal, this redevelopment project will deliver a new Reston Regional Library, Embry Rucker shelter, relocated human services building, a future recreation center, athletic field, and Fairfax County public school.

What’s happening: Yesterday, the Board of Supervisors authorized a July 14 public hearing on a proposed new ordinance to allow cash payments for county taxes and charges to be rounded to the nearest nickel.

County staff say the move is necessary due to a nationwide shortage of pennies, making it difficult to provide exact change for cash payments. Last February, the President halted the minting of new pennies, and while they are still legal tender, the coin is less widely available.

Under the proposal, the county also would be permitted to adjust bills to reflect the rounding when there’s an account associated with a cash transaction —such as for real estate or personal property taxes.

If approved, the new county ordinance would take effect when adopted, lasting until July 1, 2027. Local governments may temporarily allow cash payments to be rounded up or down under a new Virginia law, but this authority expires next year as the state seeks a permanent solution. (The state law directs the Virginia Department of Taxation to provide recommendations before next July.)

If you want to offer your two cents on this proposed change, attend the July 14 public hearing.

How it works: If approved, cash payments will be rounded up or down to the nearest nickel:

• In any case in which the total transaction amount, including any taxes, ends with one, two, six, or seven as the final digit of the number of cents for the transaction, the price will be rounded down such number of cents to the nearest number of cents divisible by five
• In any case in which the total transaction amount, including any taxes, ends with three, four, eight, or nine as the final digit of the number of cents for the transaction, may round up such number of cents to the nearest number of cents divisible by five.

For example, a bill amounting to $10.77 would be rounded down to $10.75. Conversely, a bill totaling $9.99 would be rounded up to $10. The rounding only applies to cash payments.

Because there’s only a difference of up to 2 cents when rounding cash transactions, this change poses no material impact to the county’s budget, according to staff.

Tell me more: As one of the first coins produced by the U.S. Mint, the federal government ended production of the penny after 232 years. The last penny minted for circulation occurred on Nov. 12, 2025, although an estimated 144 billion pennies still remain in existence as legal tender.

The federal government cited cost savings as the reason for this coin’s elimination. Over the past decade, the cost to mint a penny rose from 1.42 cents to 3.69 cents per penny, and ending its production will save $56 million annually.

Exacerbating the shortage, the Federal Reserve stopped accepting deposits of pennies at most of its distribution locations last year, reducing the number of pennies in circulation for use by banks, retailers and consumers. While the Fed reversed course at the beginning of this year, the shortage is expected to continue.

It’s even affecting the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (the president’s profile is on the penny’s obverse or “heads” side). The museum shop now rounds up and down cash transactions. You may have noticed that many grocers, fast food restaurants and retailers are also starting to round cash payments.

How to help: If you’re concerned about the penny shortage, you can help. Collect those pennies gathering from dust in your drawer or cup and spend them. Or take them to your bank or Coinstar machine to get more of these coins into circulation. Don’t bother holding onto them if you think they’ll increase in value —they won’t say rare coin experts.

Commemorative cent: While the penny is no longer being created for general circulation, the U.S. Mint is producing a special collectible penny to celebrate America’s Semiquincentennial. It will feature the dual-date of "1776–2026" on the “heads” side with President Lincoln’s profile. This collectible penny must be ordered directly from the Mint.

The Board of Supervisors met yesterday June 23. You can watch the meeting and review the agenda and package.

Recognizing State Champions: Go Warhawks!

We recognized high school athletes and teams who won state championships during the spring sports season.

Congratulations to the Madison High School Girls Lacrosse Team for winning the Virginia High School League Class 6 state championship. They won with an 11-9 victory over Battlefield High School. Hannah Berry led the Warhawks with four goals, while Elizabeth Johnson scored three, and Julia Myers added two. I commend all the players and head coach Jean Counts.

The Warhawks Boys Tennis Team captured the VHSL Class 6 title over Langley High School. Their victory marked a redemption from a narrow 5-4 loss to Langley last year. In addition to team’s win, Josh Vargas took the Singles title and Caleb Vargas and Lucas Albisu took home the Doubles Title! Kudos to all the players and Coach Tom Herman.

On the Madison Girls Tennis Team, player Gabriela Hernandez clinched an individual championship in the Singles, as well as Doubles alongside her partner Katie Hilton.

Crowell Road Speeding Signs Approved

What’s happening: The Board approved “$200 Additional Fine for Speeding” signs on Crowell Road between Hunter Mill and Browns Mill roads. Community members approached me with major concerns about speeding, and I assisted them to get these signs through the county’s Residential Traffic Administration Program. More needs to be done to make Crowell Road safer, but this is a step in the right direction.

Background: These signs may be installed on roads where at least 15% of vehicles go at least 10 mph over the speed limit. Qualifying roads also must be a local road, collector road, or minor arterial with a speed limit of 35 mph or less, and there must be at least 600 vehicles per day that use it.

Speeding problems? 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 additional fine for speeding signs to speed humps.

Health and Human Services and Park Bond Referenda Nov. 3

What’s happening: The Board approved petitioning the Circuit Court to put a $75 million Health and Human Services and $180 million Parks bond referendum on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.

By law, a referendum may only be put on the ballot if ordered by the Circuit Court. The court is required to enter them if the requests are found to be “in proper order.”

Early voting will begin Sept. 18 if the referenda are approved for the ballot.

Health and Human Services: If ultimately approved by a majority of voters, this bond is intended for the renovation of the Joanne Jorgenson Public Health Laboratory and Tim Harmon Campus.

As the sole local public health lab in Virginia, the Jorgenson facility performs over 200,000 analytical tests a year, and it includes a 1,500-square-foot modular Biosafety Level 2 space added during the pandemic. The Tim Harmon Campus provides residential substance use and behavioral health services.

Parks and Park Facilities: If approved by voters, the $180 million park bond is planned to be used to support the Park Authority’s five core operational categories as determined by its strategy, including purchasing land, preserving open space, stabilizing historic structures, building new parks, and constructing new amenities or facilities in existing parks. Note, however, since my service on the Park Authority Board in 2016-17 the renovation/rebuild needs of existing facilities and infrastructure have grown to be a far larger share of the Park Authority's capital program — and for this referendum that means more than $140 million of the total bond. 

What’s happening: I’m seeking three new members to join the Cathy Hudgins Community Center Advisory Council. Council members, who should be from the communities surrounding the center, will during their two-year term:

• Attend quarterly meetings
• Help identify community needs and interests for new programs, services and initiatives
• Provide feedback to the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services and the center’s director on the performance of existing programs, services and activities and new initiatives
• Serve as an advocate for the center, promoting it with the surrounding community
• Attend and assist with major center community events

If you’re interested in serving, please contact Gwenn Minton in my office by email or call 703-478-0283, TTY 711.

Background: Located at 12125 Pinecrest Road, Reston, the Cathy Hudgins Community Center at Southgate provides social, recreational and educational programs, services and activities for the surrounding neighborhood. It’s managed, operated and maintained by the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services.

Summer on the Green Concert This Friday Night

Vienna Town Green is your destination for live, outdoor music this summer. This Friday, June 26, enjoy an evening of blues music performed by 2nd Sole at the Summer on the Green concert beginning at 6:30 p.m. 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.

Cheer on New Citizens at a Naturalization Ceremony June 27

As we prepare to celebrate our nation’s 250^th anniversary, join 15 people as they become U.S. citizens at a naturalization ceremony this Saturday, June 27 at the Vienna Community Center. Cheer and welcome them as they take the Oath of Allegiance. Live entertainment begins at 3:30 p.m. followed by the ceremony at 5 p.m. Although not required, registration is encouraged for this event that’s open to everyone. I’ll be there too.

Volunteers Urgently Needed for Liberty Amendments Month

Vienna is urgently seeking volunteers to prepare for the Liberty Amendments Foundational Documents public reading event.

Place bookmarks: Help is needed to add “reading marks” to the booklets. Two to five volunteers are needed for each of these time slots at the Vienna Community Center:

• Thursday, June 25 from 2 to 5 p.m. 
• Friday, June 26 from 3 to 6 p.m. 
• Monday, June 29 4 to 6 p.m. 

If you’re available on other dates before the July 4 reading, town staff can leave books at the community center for you to mark.

Help decorate: Volunteers are also needed on Friday, July 3 from 3 to 5:30 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center (Auxiliary Gym). They will help decorate the space for the public reading.

How to volunteer: Contact the town’s Superintendent of Events and Culture Lilly Widman by email or call 703-255-5738. You may also contact Councilmember Jessica Ramakis by email.

🪕Listen to modern bluegrass band Shannon Bielski & Moonlight Drive at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Lake Anne Plaza.

✍🏿 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.

📖 Attend Ray Nayler’s discussion about his new novel “Palaces of the Crow” on July 5 at Bards Alley Bookshop in Vienna.

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

🎸Listen to Cheick Hamala Diabaté perform modern West African music on July 8 at Lake Anne Plaza.

🎸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.