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January 21, 2026

Neighbors,

Snow lovers rejoice.❄️

Current weather forecasts call for a snow storm for our region this weekend. The National Weather Service says that it’s “confidence of a significant winter storm across the region remains high Saturday into Sunday” — but it’s still too early to predict snowfall totals.

To get you prepared, here are some resources to help weather the storm:

• VDOT’s Snow Plow Tracker: The agency’s interactive map shows the real-time location of its snow plows. However, this map is only activated when there's two or more inches of snow. Keep in mind that VDOT first works to clear highways and major roads before focusing on neighborhood streets. For more information, call VDOT at 1-800-367-7623.
• County Closures: The county posts closure and delayed opening information online for libraries, community centers like the Reston Community Center, governmental centers, courts and more. Check the FCPS website for school closures or delays. (Learn more about the school decision-making process.)
• Snow Shoveling Tips: To stay safe while shoveling remember to take breaks, and call or text 9-1-1 right away if you or someone you are with begins to have chest discomfort. (People with a history of heart disease shouldn’t shovel without checking with their doctor first) As you dig out, consider helping your neighbors who may need assistance. You can also be a community hero by helping to shovel areas around fire hydrants, sidewalks, and bus stops.
• Snow Removal in Vienna: The town plows snow from all public streets, and it begins when there's two-inches of snow on the 65-miles of roads in Vienna. The town will also clear snow on sidewalks next to town-owned properties, but residents and businesses are encouraged to remove snow from around their properties. Learn more about the town's snow removal operations. For updates on the town’s operating status, visit their website and sign up for Vienna Alerts to get emergency text and email messages. 

However much snow we ultimately get, I hope you'll enjoy winter’s beauty safely.

Regards,

Walter

Watch the video below to learn the secret so your driveway isn't plowed in when a snow plow comes down your street. This simple hack will make your life easier.

• In the Community
• Dog Licenses Due Feb. 2
• Restaurant Week Returns Through Jan. 25
• Unified Sanitation District Homeowners Association Forum
• Volunteer as a Tax Preparer, Greeter or Interpreter
• Take a Survey to Improve I-66 Transfer Station Services
• Earth Day Vendors & Exhibitors Sought
• Upcoming Land Use Meetings
• What's News in Vienna
• Events and Activities

With members Heritage Fellowship Church serving food at a hypothermia shelter.

Roz Fehr, the church's outreach ministry leader, is standing next to me.

Because the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday is a "day on, not a day off," I joined members of the Heritage Fellowship Church to help serve food at a hypothermia shelter this past weekend. They offered a delicious meal of fried chicken, mac and cheese, greens and more.

Big thanks to Roz Fehr, the church's community outreach ministry leader, for inviting me, as well as organizing this event. (Roz has also lead the church's partnership with my office to distribute coats for kids.)

This past weekend, I was also honored to speak at the Reston Community Center's MLK community luncheon that featured a keynote by author and educator Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr. 

Dog Licenses Due Feb. 2

What’s happening: Dog licenses are due by Monday, Feb. 2, and the quickest and easiest way to apply or renew is online on the PetData website.

If you’ve applied for a license in the past, you should have received your renewal notice directly from PetData. These notices are sent automatically every year unless you report that you no longer have a dog or have moved out of Fairfax County.

Licensing basics: Every dog four months or older must be licensed yearly with Fairfax County, and licenses are valid until Dec. 31 each year.

• Licenses cost $10 — except for service dogs which are given licenses for free. PetData charges a $2 service fee for credit or debit card payments.
• If you’re getting a license for the first time, you must provide a current rabies vaccination certificate. When renewing, proof of vaccination isn’t required unless the certificate has expired.

Questions? For all dog licensing questions, contact PetData directly online or call 1-888-556-2906, TTY 711, on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

What’s happening: Homeowners association leaders are invited to a dialogue with county staff to discuss a proposed unified sanitation district. This virtual forum will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. via Microsoft Teams. To participate in the forum and an associated survey, email county staff.

Who may participate: One person per homeowners or civic association may join, and staff want to talk to HOA leaders that represent communities with single-family or attached homes that take their trash to the curb.

Background: This forum directly resulted from a motion I introduced last August. As some may remember, staff had proposed a county-managed/privately operated trash and recycling system called a unified sanitation district. Because there was no clear plan in place for how this system would operate, my motion called for the county to hold public forums with residents and trash haulers; develop options for a modified unified sanitation district or alternatives that would achieve the same goals; and establish a process for the Board to consider these options. Read more about my motion and position.

What’s happening: Fairfax County seeks volunteers to help with the annual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. You can help prepare federal tax returns for low-income residents, be an interpreter or greet clients.

• Be a preparer: To help prepare tax returns, you must complete a training class. The last class will be held on Jan. 28. To sign up, contact the VITA Volunteer Coordinator Loulit Tadesse by email or call 703-533-5320.
• Be a greeter: Greeters are needed at the VITA site in Reston at 11484 Washington Plaza West. You’ll help confirm taxpayers have the required documentation and provide intake forms. Sign up to volunteer.
• Be an interpreter: Interpreters are needed for the VITA site at the Herndon Neighborhood Resource Center. Fluent speakers in Amharic, Dari, Pashto, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese are needed. Sign up to volunteer.

Need help with your own taxes? Get free help from AARP’s IRS-certified volunteers that will either prepare your taxes or coach you so you can do them yourself.

Tax assistance is also offered starting Jan. 31 at the Reston Community Center (Hunters Woods). Schedule an appointment.

What’s happening: Help the county to improve its disposal and recycling services at its I-66 Transfer Station and I-95 Landfill Complex. Take a quick, online survey by March 15. Both residential and commercial customers are encouraged to participate.

You’ll be asked to rate the customer service, wait times, ease of access and a variety of other issues at these two facilities.

Services offered: If you haven’t visited either of these facilities, they offer trash disposal and many recycling options:

• Household hazardous waste
• Electronics
• Rechargeable batteries (you may also bring disposable alkaline and rechargeable batteries to my office)
• Used motor oil, antifreeze, and cooking oil
• Food scraps
• Glass recycling (or take them at the Purple Bin at Baron Cameron Park or Reston South Park and Ride)
• Textile recycling
• Scrap metal/appliances

Recycle at I-66: The I-66 Transfer Station is open every day — except Wednesday — for household hazardous waste (e.g. rechargeable batteries, motor oil, pesticides and CFL lightbulbs) and electronics waste. Food scraps, cooking oil, glass bottles and jars, and textiles may be dropped off there every day.

What’s happening: The Fairfax County Park Authority is seeking vendors and exhibitors for the Earth Day Celebration at Lake Fairfax Park on April 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

While applications for food vendors have already closed, merchandise and other vendors may still apply, along with nonprofit and community exhibitors.

Apply: Apply by Monday, Feb. 23. Rolling acceptance notifications will be made through March 2. Learn more about the fees, other requirements and application process.

Reston Planning & Zoning Jan. 26

Attend the virtual meeting on Monday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. Click here to join. To attend by phone, dial 571-429-5982 and enter meeting ID 693 626 456#

Agenda:

• Reston Station/Reston Row Sign Plan SE-2025-HM-00001
• TBD 

Hunter Mill Land Use Committee Scheduled for Feb. 17

The committee’s meeting for Tuesday, Jan. 20 was *canceled* because there were no applications to review. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be Tuesday, Feb. 17.

Bingo, Cookies & Cocoa Jan. 23

Gather your friends and join Vienna Parks and Recreation for a fun afternoon filled with treats, games, and prizes on Friday, Jan. 23 at 1:30 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center. This event is for adults ages 55-plus, and preregistration is required.

Southside Park Habitat Restoration Jan. 26

Volunteer to help remove invasive plants at Southside Park on Monday, Jan. 26 at 10 a.m. Meet at the Ware-Walker entrance. Advanced sign-ups are appreciated but not required. For more information and to sign up, email Jeremy Edwards or call 703-255-6336.

“Jack and the Beanstalk” Jan. 31

The Vienna Theatre Company presents its production of "Jack and the Beanstalk” on Saturday, Jan. 31 and Feb. 7 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center. A real cast pretends to be imaginary characters, aided by a "magic keeper" who helps them tell the story. Tickets are available at the door only ($5 for kids under age 8; $10 for adults and $8 for seniors.)

‍🔭Peer into the night sky on Jan. 23 for dark sky education event at the the Observatory Park at Turner Farm.

🎤 Listen to “Girlfriend in a Coma,” a tribute to Morrissey and The Smiths, on Jan. 23 at Capital One Hall.

🦅Learn fundamentals of raptor rehabilitation on Jan. 24 at the National Wildlife Federation.

🎭 South Lakes High School Chorus presents Broadway Night on Jan. 23-24. 

🤣 Enjoy six hours of non-stop laughter on Jan. 24 with Resonance Improv’s Lights of Laughter at 1^st Stage.

🎨Take Marcie-Wolf Hubbard’s fun mixed media workshop for artists on Jan. 24 at Ovissi Nasser Studio.

🍞Attend Toastique’s grand opening for its new Great Falls location on Jan. 24.

🧊 Attend Ice-Travaganza on Jan. 24 at Reston Town Center to see ice sculptures, ice carving and more.

🐦John Mittermeier speaks on the Search for Lost Birds on Jan. 25 at the National Wildlife Federation.

📼Digitize your old cassette and VHS tapes, photos and more at this class on Jan. 24 at Reston Regional Library.

🌸Learn Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging, while enjoying pastries on Jan. 25 at La Madeline.

🕺🏽Take a beginner-friendly country line dancing class on Jan. 31 at Reston Regional Library.

🎞️ Watch the Crawley family’s adventures in “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” on Jan. 28 at Reston Town Center.

🎭 Watch comedy-horror play “Drowner” starting Jan. 29 at Next Stop Theater.

🧩Swap new or gently-used puzzles and board, card and party games on Jan. 31 at Reston Regional Library.

🤸‍♂️Reston Summer Camp Expo on Jan. 31 at Reston Community Center.

📖 Patricia Tanumihardja reads her latest picture book “Monkey’s Sweet Surprise: A Lunar New Year Mix-Up” on Jan. 31 at Bards Alley.

👢Watch Kinky Boots on Jan. 31-Feb. 1 at Capital One Hall.

🐻 Join a lecture “Living with Black Bears” on Feb. 1 at Wolf Trap National Park.

🎞️ Watch “A Real Pain,” a movie about mismatched cousins on a Jewish heritage tour in Poland, on Feb. 2 at Reston Community Center.

🎸 Listen to Rumours: The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute on Feb. 7 at Capital One Hall.

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.