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These days, it can feel like the world is pulling us apart. Too often, the headlines and conversations around us leave us feeling disconnected, divided, and unsure of where we stand with one another. In moments like these, I keep coming back to the wisdom of Mister Rogers, who remembered his mother telling him, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
Here in Braddock, we don’t have to look very far.
The helpers are our neighbors. They’re the people who quietly step up, often without being asked and rarely looking for recognition. Some show up when there’s an emergency. Others show up every single day in ways that are easy to overlook: coaching a team, delivering a meal, checking on an older neighbor, cleaning a park, staying late after a meeting to stack the chairs. Their help comes in small ways and large ones, and together it holds our community together. That is what the Best of Braddock is all about: celebrating them.
I know firsthand how much volunteers keep our society going, because volunteering has shaped so much of my own life. I’ve been a booster parent, served on the PTA, and volunteered in the classroom. I’ve been a youth coach and a Girls on the Run coach. I’ve served on advisory committees and worked with local advocacy organizations to help make our world more inclusive, a place where everyone is seen for their strengths and has the chance to thrive.
Those experiences have brought me more joy than almost anything else. I still remember the faces of the girls crossing the finish line of their very first 5K with Girls on the Run. The next year, some of those same girls ran up to me, beaming, to tell me they had run the whole time. Watching their pride in what they had accomplished, and seeing their confidence grow from one season to the next, is something I will never forget.
That’s the magic of volunteering. The people we help grow, and in the process, we grow as well. I am truly humbled to celebrate the volunteers right here in our amazing community of communities. To every neighbor who has ever stepped up to help: thank you. You are the helpers, and you remind us all of who we are at our best.
Come celebrate the helpers among us next Tuesday, November 10, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Best of Braddock! Enjoy food from featured sponsor Another Broken Egg Cafe, join us for our first-ever intergenerational art contest, where neighbors of all ages will share their creativity side by side, and help us cheer on the winner of the inaugural Braddock Battle of the Bands. Bring your family, bring a friend, and come help us thank the people who make Braddock home. I hope to see you there!
| Supervisor Rachna Sizemore Heizer | | |
In this issue:
- 👥What's Happening Around Braddock? (Including a traffic advisory)
- ❤️Observe Veterans Day
- 🍎Health and Human Services
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🥋Arts and Culture
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❓Middle Riddle
- 🚗Transportation
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🏠Land Use and Housing
- 🌳Environment updates
- 🚗Transportation
- 💚💛Mason Matters
- 🐱Pet Adoption Corner
| | What's Happening Around Braddock? | | |
Join us for Best of Braddock
Next Tuesday!
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The entries are submitted. The votes are counted. And the winners are here.
If you're curious about who took home the gold for the coveted Best of Braddock awards, or who won Braddock's Intergenerational Art Competition, join us for the Best of Braddock awards ceremony on November 10, 2026, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Braddock Hall (9002 Burke Lake Road, Burke, VA 22015). The evening begins with a reception featuring free food and drink from Braddock-area businesses, followed by the awards ceremony with our community members and elected officials. Attire is business casual.
Please RSVP at the link below for an evening of celebration.
| TOMORROW: Illuminations Charity Gala | |
Illuminations Charity Gala is an evening dedicated to raising awareness about the experiences, challenges, resilience, and rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. Admission is free, and dinner will be provided.
Hosted by Be The Change in collaboration with the Afghan Student Union.
Through speaker presentations, discussion, cultural engagement, and opportunities for students to connect with the issue, attendees will learn more about the barriers Afghan women and girls continue to face in areas such as education, employment, mobility, and human rights. The goal of the evening is to create a respectful and meaningful space for the Mason community to listen, learn, engage with diverse perspectives, and better understand how students can contribute to awareness and positive change.
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Veterans Day:
Clean Up on Americana Drive
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Join Friends of Accotink Creek, Fairfax County Restoration Project, and neighbors to help clean up Americana Drive! The clean up will be between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. all along Americana Drive. Stop in for an hour to make a difference. Community service hours are available through Friends of Accotink Creek.
Be prepared to get tired and dirty! Click the link below to learn more.
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🤖 Kings Park Library AI Discussion Group
Join the Kings Park Library on November 13 at 2:00 p.m. in the Kings Park Library Conference Room for an AI Discussion. This program is designed to bring older community members into the conversation about AI in society. It will provide an overview of AI capabilities and selected risks, and our roles as humans in relation to AI.
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🧤 Winter Gear Drive Through December 5
Swing by the Braddock District office (9002 Burke Lake Road) and drop off any new or gently used winter gear.
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🎨 PODCAST: A quantum leap for Virginia
On this episode of Access to Excellence, President Gregory Washington is joined by TreQ founder and CEO Mandy Birch and director of George Mason's Quantum Science and Engineering Center Patrick Vora to discuss establishing the Virginia Quantum Hub at George Mason.
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⚠️🎺Traffic Advisory for Saturday, November 7
The Virginia Marching Band Collaborative State Championship is taking place at Woodson High School on Saturday, November 7.
This full-day event will result in increased traffic and pedestrians in the areas around both Woodson High School and Frost Middle School. Access and parking will be extremely limited in these locations.
The event is open to the public and spectators can attend. For more information, and to purchase tickets, visit Woodson Band VMBC Championships.
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America's Adopt a Soldier
Write a Card Campaign
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November 2, 2026 marks the sixteenth year that America’s Adopt A Soldier ® will reach out to America to ask for cards of thanks to share with our nation’s Service Members who are deployed and Veterans who are in Veterans Homes and Hospitals.
To participate in the 2026 National Care Letter Campaign, mail your personal written and designed letter or greeting card to America’s Adopt A Soldier, 5240 Port Royal Road, Suite 204 Springfield VA 22151.
| Health and Human Services | |
Sunday: 34th Annual
Burke CROP Hunger Walk
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Invite your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers to this fun, family-friendly fundraising event that supports the eradication of local and global hunger.
Twenty-five percent of the funds raised will benefit our local hunger partners, Western Fairfax Christian Ministries and Ecumenical Community Helping Others (ECHO, Inc.) two organizations serving families in Fairfax County who are experiencing food insecurity. The remaining funds support the global mission of Church World Service, providing empowerment programs, tools, and training that promote long-term sustainability, access to nutritious food, and clean water.
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Don’t miss the 2026 Fairfax County Kimchi Festival at the Fairfax County Government Center! Bring your whole family to enjoy Hanbok trying, Korean calligraphy, traditional games, paper folding, a Taekwondo demonstration and delicious K-foods!
Admission is free, but registration is required. Find the sign up link below.
| Upcoming Braddock-area theater performances! | |
A Wrinkle in Time: November 5-7 @ Lake Braddock High School
Our Town: November 5, 6, 7, 13 and 14 @ Woodson High School
The Woodsman: November 12-21 @ West Springfield High School
Romeo & Juliet: November 19-21 @ Annandale High School
Blue Stockings: November 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21 @ Robinson Secondary School
Moana Jr: November 19-22 @ Lake Braddock Middle School
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RIDDLE OF THE WEEK
If you read this far, email us the answer to the following riddle and you'll have made our day :)
What kind of room has no doors or windows?
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New Braddock District
Pedestrian Safety Projects
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We approved VDOT's design plans for the Rolling Road and Grigsby Drive Traffic Signal Project at last Tuesday's Board meeting. This intersection is located outside of West Springfield High School, and the project will help improve traffic operations and safety for students.
This design includes four pedestrian crosswalks with Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS), as well as upgrading curb ramps for ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance. The signal will include a Flashing Yellow Arrow (FYA) configuration for the northbound and southbound Rolling Road left-turn movements.
We've been advocating to speed up this project given how important it is to the safety of pedestrians, and especially students. We're excited to see this pedestrian safety project come to life!
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Two additional projects will be moving forward using funds from Fairfax County's $100m committment to active transportation projects. In the Braddock District, this includes:
- Constructing approximately 20 feet of new pathway to fill a gap along the east side of Maple Avenue at the John Robert Way intersection.
- Providing crosswalk safety improvements at the Guinea Road intersection with Olley Lane and Harford Lane.
| See What’s Being Built Near You with the Development Tracker | |
Fairfax County’s Land Development Services recently launched a new Development Tracker, an easy-to-use interactive map that lets you see what projects are underway in your neighborhood. By entering an address, you can quickly view active construction sites, recent permits, zoning applications, comprehensive plan amendments, and certificates of occupancy — all in one place.
This tool offers a simple way to stay informed about how your community is growing and changing.
| | November 14 is Fairfax Recycles Day | Aligning with the national “America Recycles Day,” Fairfax Recycles Day has been recognized by the Board of Supervisors for several years. The County’s Solid Waste Management Program traditionally celebrates with various events, contests and giveaways. | Help Is Available for Heating Costs as Temperatures Drop | |
For those residents who may struggle to keep up with increasing heating costs this winter, there are programs that can help.
The Fuel Assistance Program helps eligible households cover the cost of their primary heating source during the colder months. Applications are accepted through the second Friday in November, with approved applicants receiving benefits beginning in January and continuing through April or until funds are used. To apply for Fuel Assistance, or other food and medical benefits, visit CommonHelp or call 855-635-4370.
For households experiencing an energy emergency — such as having no heat or being at risk of losing heat — the Crisis Assistance Program offers additional support. This may include help paying heating bills, securing utility deposits, purchasing heating fuel, or repairing or replacing unsafe or inoperable heating equipment. Crisis Assistance applications are accepted through March 16 for equipment-related needs, and from the first business day in January through March 16 for heating fuel and utility payments.
| After Virginia Votes 2026! | |
Date: Tuesday, November 10
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Mason Square, Van Metre Hall, and via Livestream
The Schar School of Policy and Government, in partnership with the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP), invites you to tune in (or attend in person) to this annual post-election discussion.
Hear from Zack Golden (Sen. Warner's campaign), Jeff Ryer, Chairman of the Virginia Republican Party, Dr. Steven Farnsworth of the University of Mary Washington, and Mark Rozell, Dean of the Schar School of Policy. Julie Carey will moderate. Online and in person.
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Meet Rita, a lovely 4-year-old black and white beauty with a gentle spirit and a quiet charm. She has a soft, endearing presence that makes her easy to be around, whether she's lounging nearby or calmly taking in her surroundings.
Rita enjoys affection on her own terms and will happily soak up attention once she feels comfortable. She would thrive in a home that can offer her a steady routine and a bit of patience as she settles in and shows her true personality. With time, she's sure to form a strong, loving bond with her people.
If Rita sounds like the pet for you, read more about her and the adoption process here.
| | Follow Supervisor Rachna Sizemore Heizer on
Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Bluesky, and 'X.' | | | | |
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