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Dear Neighbor, 

As we move through October, I wanted to highlight a few important events and initiatives happening across our district this week — some joyful community traditions, meaningful opportunities to come together outdoors, and a reminder about safety that affects us all. 

First, the Herndon Homecoming Parade returns this weekend. It’s one of the town’s favorite annual traditions. This year’s theme, Hollywood Through the Years, is sure to bring out plenty of creativity, hometown spirit, and fun. There are floats, marching bands, school groups, local businesses, and community organizations all joining in. It’s a wonderful chance to celebrate our neighbors and support Herndon High. Bring your family, find a good spot along the parade route, and enjoy the show! (Bring your sweet tooth, too – as always, I’ll be passing out candy, and you know I don’t want to have any leftover at home!) 

I also hope you’ll join me and my staff for our Dranesville Celebrates Trees event. Together with the McLean Trees Foundation, we’ll be planting 15 new native trees in the park — thanks to a generous donation from the Lewinsville Coalition. During a short ceremony, we will also plant a white oak in honor of Jane Edmondson, who served our community with such tremendous dedication and grace as Chief of Staff to former Supervisor John Foust. We’ll meet at 10 a.m. on the grassy area to the left of the recreation center entrance. Please wear sturdy shoes, long pants, and bring water. Tools and gloves will be available for all volunteers. 

Finally, October is National Pedestrian Safety Month, which takes on particular significance this week. Our community experienced a deeply concerning incident in which a young girl on an e‑bike was struck by a car on her way to school. As we keep her and her family in our thoughts, it’s an important reminder to slow down! If someone is in the crosswalk and you’re driving, stop! And if you’re in a school zone, please take extra care. 

Speaking of school zones, Fairfax County has secured the authority to implement school-zone speed cameras and school bus stop-arm cameras through collaboration with our partners in the General Assembly.  At the initial school-zone speed camera locations, average speeds have decreased by approximately 15%. Initiatives like FCPD's Road Shark and our Take a Moment campaign also support safer travel through enforcement and public education. Whether you are behind the wheel, on a bike, on an e-bike, on a scooter, or on foot, safety on our streets is a shared responsibility. 

The first meeting of the Board of Supervisors-Fairfax County Public Schools Joint Task Force on Traffic and Pedestrian Safety takes place this week on Friday at 1:30pm at the Fairfax County Government Center. I look forward to working together with my colleagues on the School Board, at the Fairfax County Police Department, Virginia Department of Transportation, Fairfax County Department of Transportation, and our delegation to the General Assembly on meaningful improvements, including, as I have continuously pushed for, steps to speed up our delivery of infrastructure changes. I know that together we can make our streets safer, especially around school zones. 

All the best,

Please share this newsletter with your friends and neighbors. If this email was forwarded to you, consider subscribing to receive Dranesville District news and updates.

Make sure you’re following us on Social Media for daily and real-time updates:

Jimmy in the Community

Raise the Region Gala

Floris Methodist Church "Lead with Love: Day of Empowerment and Impact"

Berkdale Halloween

New Dominion Women's Club

Early Voting

16 sites are open for early voting through Saturday, October 31 for the November 3 General Election. The sites within the Dranesville district include the McLean Governmental Center, Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library, Herndon Fortnightly Library, and Great Falls Library. These sites will be open from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, and 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Unlike election day voting, when voters must vote in their precinct, during early voting, any Fairfax County voter may vote at any Fairfax County early voting location. For more information, please visit In-Person Early Voting | Elections. 

Other Important Dates and Links: 

• Register to Vote/Update Registration through October 23, 2026 
• Apply for ballot to be mailed to you through October 23, 2026 
• Who/What is on your ballot? 

Land Development Services is Here to Help

Fairfax County Land Development Services is committed to providing excellent customer service and helping property owners and business owners navigate the permitting process. Whether you have questions about permits, need guidance on next steps, or would like to speak with a staff member, their team is here to help.

Contact:

· Phone: 703-222-0801

· Email: LandDevelopmentServices@fairfaxcounty.gov

Their dedicated customer service call center answers questions and connects customers with the appropriate staff and resources.

Visit them in person:

Walk-in customers are welcome at the Permitting and Customer Service Counter in Suite 324 of the Herrity Building, located at 12055 Government Center Pkwy, Fairfax, VA 22035.

Schedule a meeting with their staff:

Prefer to plan ahead? You can schedule a virtual meeting or an in-person appointment through the LDS Meet with Staff webpage. Land Development Services is proud to serve the Fairfax County community. They look forward to helping you navigate the permitting process and build safely through responsive, knowledgeable, and customer-focused service!

Dranesville Elementary School Construction Update

You’re invited to a community meeting on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria at Dranesville Elementary School. Please enter through Door 1.

During the meeting, the Facilities Design and Construction team will provide updates on the final phase of construction, including completed improvements, remaining work, and the anticipated project timeline. Attendees will also have an opportunity to ask questions. Language interpretation will be provided. For more information about this FCPS capital project, please visit the Dranesville Elementary School renovation project webpage.

Yard Watch: Invasive Species Alert

Chinese Silvergrass (Mischanthus sinensis)

Brought to you by Fairfax Invasive Removal Alliance

Chinese silvergrass was brought from Asia to the US as an ornamental grass in the late 1800s, and is still being sold through the horticultural trade. Unfortunately, it has escaped landscaped areas and has invaded roadsides, clearings, rights-of-way and meadows.

It is a densely bunched grass with a silvery midrib in its narrow, long grassblades. Identification information can be found here. The huge number of seeds produced are dispersed by wind but it can also spread by rhizomes. In addition to taking away space from native plants, Chinese silvergrass is also highly flammable.

Manual removal can be done in small infestations. For homeowners, frequent mowing in the growing summer season is recommended. See this link for more information on chemical treatment.  

Native alternatives to Chinese silvergrass are: River oats, bottlebrush grass and Indian grass. See this link for more information on native alternatives.

Help Keep Students Safe: Be a Crossing Guard

Join the team dedicated to keeping Fairfax County children safe as they bike and walk to and from school. Fairfax County School Crossing Guards earn $18.50 per hour plus bonus time. This is a great opportunity for retirees, stay‑at‑home parents, or anyone looking to make a meaningful difference in their community by helping students travel safely each day. To learn more or apply, visit this webpage. You may also call Hillary at 571‑685‑2187 for additional information.

Herndon 2050: Futures Survey

What do you love about Herndon? What would you like to see improved? What should our community prioritize for future generations? No matter your age, your voice matters! This is your opportunity to help shape the Herndon of tomorrow.

Take the Herndon 2050 Community Survey!

• Survey: Click here to Share Your Voice
• Time: Just 5–10 minutes
• Languages: Available in English and Spanish
• Who Can Participate: Children and adults
• Deadline: November 4

For more information, visit Herndon2050.org

Teens in Action: Winter and Spring Break Camps

Teen Fridays at Herndon Community Center

Turkey Trot is Right Around the Corner

The countdown to the Herndon Turkey Trot 5K is on! Whether you're running for a personal best, walking with friends, or simply looking for a fun way to kick off Thanksgiving week, this annual tradition has something for everyone.

And don't forget about the post-race celebration! Aslin Beer Company and the Loudoun Elks Lodge #2406 are returning with post-race beers to help participants celebrate crossing the finish line.

Register by Wednesday, October 28, to guarantee your shirt size!

Don't wait until the last minute. Sign up now, secure your preferred shirt size and get ready to hit the course!

October 22: Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Training

Join Safe Community Coalition and Chris Atwood for their free REVIVE Fall NARCAN Training Session

Equip yourself with the knowledge and tools to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose - so that you're prepared to save a life.

Highschoolers can receive volunteer hours for participation.

REVIVE is Virginia's Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Education Program for Lay Rescuers and is available to all: 

• there is no cost for anyone to attend or for the NARCAN 
• there are no pre-qualifications necessary 
• anyone over 16 is welcome to attend (under 16 must be accompanied by an adult). 
• everyone leaves with ready-to-use NARCAN upon completion of training 

You'll walk away knowing:

• how to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose
• how to safely and effectively administer Naloxone (Narcan)
• what steps to take after administering Naloxone

All participants who complete the full training will receive FREE dose of Naloxone — so you’ll be prepared if you ever need it.

Space is limited, so RSVP as soon as you can! If you have any questions, please email sarah.t.tyler@gmail.com.

Thursday, October 22

7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

McLean Community Center

1234 Ingleside Ave

McLean, VA 22101

October 23: Irish Trad Music Festival

October 24: Dranesville Celebrates Trees

Join me, my staff, and the McLean Trees Foundation (MTF) to plant 15 native trees in the park. The trees are being planted with a generous donation from the Lewinsville Coalition. We will have a short ceremony at 12:30 p.m. during which a white oak will be planted in honor of Jane Edmondson, who was the Chief of Staff of former Supervisor John Foust as well as a founder and former President of the Lewinsville Coalition.

We will meet at 10:00 a.m. on the grassy area to the left of the recreation center entrance. Please wear heavy shoes and long pants as well as work gloves if you have some. Don't forget to bring water to drink. MTF will have tools and gloves for everyone.

Sign up here! For more information contact Carol Wolter at woltercarol@gmail.com.

October 24: Herndon Homecoming Parade

Roll out the red carpet for the 2026 Herndon High School Homecoming Parade, proudly presented by the Herndon Parks & Recreation Department!

This year's theme, Hollywood Through the Years, celebrates the magic of the movies with creative floats, marching bands, school groups, community organizations, local businesses, and plenty of hometown spirit. Bring your family, find a spot along the parade route, and enjoy one of Herndon's favorite annual traditions. For more information, visit this webiste.

Saturday, October 24

9:30 a.m.

October 24: Nonperishable Food and

Hygiene Products Drive

October 24: Shred Day

Looking to clean out all of those old documents that have been taking up valuable space in your home or office? Join Lafayette Federal Credit Union at their McLean Branch, and they'll help you shred your documents safely, securely, and for FREE!

After shredding, stick around to enjoy:

• Delicious (and free) breakfast
• Fun and unique giveaways
• A wealth of valuable financial advice from Lafayette Federal

For more information, visit this website.

Saturday, October 24

9:00 a.m.

6890 Elm St.

Mclean, VA 22101

October 24: Drug Take Back Day

Drug Take Back Day is a free, convenient, confidential, and safe way to dispose of unused or expired medicine. Safe disposal: 

• Prevents drug misuse
• Prevents accidental poisoning
• Protects the environment

Saturday, October 24

10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Find a location near you

October 27: Energy Town Hall

Are you a resident of the 6th House District and want to better understand what makes up your electric bill? Join Senator Jennifer B. Boysko and Delegate Rip Sullivan next week as they bring in experts to discuss line-by-line what makes up your electric bill and energy issues that are impacting you. 

Co-hosted the McLean Citizens Association and the Great Falls Citizens Association. RSVP here. 

Tuesday, October 27

6:30 p.m.

McLean Community Center

1234 Ingleside Ave.

McLean, VA 22101

October 28: Aging Life Care Manager

Roundtable Discussion

Join the Positive Aging Community for a live, interactive session where Aging Life Care Managers® come together to share their knowledge and best practices. 

Rebecca Montano, PhD,CRC,CMC,CCM,CDP Aging Focused, LLC 

Joanne McCarty RN, BSN, CMC Independent You

Register here.

Wednesday, October 28

3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Online

October 28: 
When Families Disagree: Navigating Aging,

Conflict, & Difficult Decisions

Planning for aging isn’t just about care options—it’s about people. Old family wounds, sibling conflict, differing values, money, guilt, and unresolved relationships can turn even simple decisions into painful battles. Join Aging Life Care Managers® Steve Barlam and Bunni Dybnis for a practical discussion about resolving conflict, reducing family stress, and helping families make better decisions together. 

Steve Barlam, MSW, LCSW, CMC JFS Care 

Bunni Dybnis, MA, LMFT, CMC Aging Life Matters

Register here.

Wednesday, October 28

3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Online

October 31: Congressman Walkinshaw Open Season Healthcare Workshop

Federal employees and retirees, Open Season runs from November 9 to December 14.

It's your annual opportunity to review and change your health, dental, and vision coverage.

To help you choose with confidence, Congressman Walkinshaw is hosting his annual Open Season Workshop.

Federal Employees Health Benefits experts Kevin Moss and Nancy DeLew will walk through your options, and health care vendors will be on hand to answer your questions.

For more details, call (703) 256-3071.

Saturday, October 31

10:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m.

Fairfax County Government Center

12000 Government Center Parkway

Fairfax, VA 22035

October 31: McLean Baptist Church Trunk or Treat

Come to McLean Baptist Church parking lot at the corner of Chain Bridge Rd and Brawner St in McLean for candy given out from the backs of cars in the lot.

Saturday, October 31

5:30 p.m.

McLean Baptist Church

1367 Chain Bridge Rd

McLean, VA 22101

October 31: Old Firehouse

Festival of Frights & Trunk or Treat

Calling all families of ghouls and goblins! Come join the Old Firehouse, in your best Halloween costumes, for a night of live music, games, food, contests and tons of candy! Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.

Want to host a trunk? Call the OFC staff at 703-448-8336!

Saturday, October 31

5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The Old Firehouse Center

1440 Chain Bridge Rd.

McLean, VA 22101

October 31: Deadline for VFW Post 8241

Patriotic Programs

November 1: Wolf Trap Explorers

Nature Adventure Quest

Register here.

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dranesville

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