The Walkinshaw Advisory: Plastic-Free July, Mosquito Dunks, & Braddock Summer Entertainment Series

7.11.24

Dear Neighbor,

Plastic Free July is a month-long opportunity to help reduce plastic waste! There are many easy and convenient ways to reduce waste.

Utilize reusable grocery bags and avoid Fairfax County's $.05 fee on plastic bags.
Use a reusable coffee cup.
Swap out balloons with more sustainable decoration options like paper lanterns, reusable bunting, DIY bubble blowers, and flowers.
Use a reusable water bottle or purchase an at-home water filter rather than buying plastic water bottles.

This month, I hope you'll take the opportunity to replace a single-use plastic item with a more sustainable alternative!

Farmers Markets

Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) Farmers Markets have teamed up with Clean Fairfax for a plastic-free challenge as part of the Plastic Free July campaign. FCPA Farmers Markets will have activities, eco-friendly giveaways, and useful information about how to go plastic-free at the market locations. FCPA will provide 5,000 washable produce bags and 2,500 reusable shopping bags during the campaign. Clean Fairfax will be present at all Farmers Market locations in Fairfax County to provide information about Plastic Free July, reusable bags, facts about how plastic pollution has affected Fairfax streams, and will host an in-person challenge. By participating, you could win eco-friendly prizes. Visit FCPA’s website to learn more!

This year’s Plastic Free July theme is “Small steps, big difference.” This powerful statement encourages you to take small actions, like swapping plastic bottles with more sustainable options, and see the big impact it can make in our community.

Visit Clean Fairfax’s website to learn about their partnership with FCPA and more!

7/12 Braddock Nights at Lake Accotink Park: Little Red and The Renegades

Based in Washington, DC, Little Red and the Renegades have played at Austin's SXSW and at the Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian, and the Washington Folk Festival. They have appeared with Dr. John, Buckwheat Zydeco, Nathan Williams & the Zydeco Cha-Chas, and many others. Madlib and Limp Bizkit have sampled Little Red, so you know he's got the funk bone. Little Red's music has been broadcast on WAMU (DC), WPFW (DC), WWOZ (New Orleans), WERA (Arlington), WOWD (Takoma Park), and other stations around the world!

The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) is encouraging everyone to avoid using products made of or packaged in plastic throughout the month. If you would like to know helpful facts about plastics, and tips on how to use more sustainable options, visit DPWES' website.

Mosquito Dunks

Are you in need of mosquito dunks or chunks? As we enter the dog days of summer and participate in outdoor activities, stop by the Braddock District Office (9002 Burke Lake Road, Burke) to pick up your mosquito protection and stay safe against bites.

Mosquito dunks and chunks have long been a fixture of the County’s Fight the Bite campaign, dunks acting as a treatment for large water features, and chunks being used for birdbaths and small fountains. These pesticides are non-toxic to humans and pets but will help control your residential mosquito problem. Give us a visit at the Braddock District Office from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday to pick some up. Distribution is limited to two per household.

To learn more about how to fight mosquitoes and other disease carrying insects, visit the County’s Fight the Bite website.

Braddock Summer Entertainment Series

Our Summer Entertainment Series has been going great! We are almost halfway through our Arts in the Parks shows and last weekend we kicked off the Braddock Nights concerts.

We have six Arts in the Parks shows remaining on Saturdays from 10:00 - 10:45 a.m. at Wakefield Park in front of the Audrey Moore Rec Center (8100 Braddock Road, Annandale).

Our Braddock Nights evening concerts are on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. at Royal Lake Park (5344 Gainsborough Drive, Fairfax) and Lake Accotink Park (7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield) and will continue throughout the summer.

7/12 Braddock Nights at Royal Lake Park: Honky Tonk Casanovas

The Honky Tonk Casanovas play an entertaining mix of country, western swing, California surf, and southern soul music! Based out of the MD/VA/Washington DC area, the Casanovas feature the rich vocals of Cherith and Larry, lots of honky tonk guitar by Bob, the beautiful sounds of pedal steel guitar from Eric and the distinguished keyboards of Maryland Entertainment Hall of Fame member Sam Paladino. Playing great music from Asleep At The Wheel, Linda Ronstadt, Brooks & Dunn, Patsy Cline, Martina McBride, The Beach Boys, George Strait + more!

For information about weather cancellations, you can call the hotline at (703) 324-7469 (SHOW) one hour prior to the scheduled start time of a show for an update.

Yours in service,

Supervisor James R. Walkinshaw

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

Continue reading below for more information on:

Open House at Burke House
Car Seat Saturday
A Place Called Ilda Book Discussion
Last Chance to Leave Feedback for Better Bus Network's Proposed Cuts
Personal Climate Action: A Carbon-Free Fairfax Webinar
Future Women Leaders in Law Enforcement
Share Your Thoughts about the Fairfax Center Area Study
Nominations Open for the Friends of Trees Awards
Heat Safety Tips

Open House at Burke House

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Woodbury, the historic house located at Sunrise at Silas Burke House, will be open on Saturday, July 13 for free tours led by the Burke Historical Society.

Volunteers will give tours beginning at 10:30 a.m. and the last tour will start at 12:15 p.m. Other historic structures on the property include the ice house, windmill, and the old Burke Post Office. Reservations are not required for tours.

Car Seat Saturday

Get your child’s car seat inspected on Saturday, July 13, from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the West Springfield District Station (6140 Rolling Road, Springfield). No appointment is needed.

Car seats will be inspected on a first-come, first-served basis. When you arrive, go into the lobby, and you will be given further directions. All car seat inspections/installations will be conducted by a certified Child Passenger Safety technician. Be sure to install the child safety seat yourself so the inspection can be performed. The seat will be properly re-installed, if necessary, and you will learn how to install the seat properly in the future.

Reach out to MPO Tony Capizzi at (703) 277-2363 or email anthony.capizzi@fairfaxcounty.gov if you have questions. Car seat inspections are also available, by appointment, every Tuesday from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Call the station at (703) 644-7377, and press zero to make an appointment for those days.

A Place Called Ilda Book Discussion

The Little River United Church of Christ’s Women’s Ministry Book Group and the Antiracism Ministry Team invite you to a book discussion on A Place Called Ilda with a presentation by author Tom Shoop.

The book discussion is on Sunday, July 14, at 1:00 p.m. at the Little River United Church of Christ (8410 Little River Turnpike, Annandale).

For more information, visit Little River UCC's website.

Last Chance to Leave Feedback for Better Bus Network's Proposed Cuts

Recently, Metro launched the Better Bus Redesign – which is WMATA’s overarching initiative to improve bus service in the region.

This network prepares Metro for the future by creating building blocks of the expanded bus network the region deserves, serving recent and planned growth areas, and providing more frequent all-day, all-week service. Explore the network.

But the redesign would make changes to several routes that serve the Braddock District, and some stops that exist today would be eliminated or consolidated. For example, the current 17G, 17K, and 17B routes would change to the F28 and F29 with different routes and stops.

Residents are encouraged to review the Map Library to see the new routes, maps, and stops and provide feedback directly to WMATA. Feedback is being accepted until July 15 at 5:00 p.m. There are several ways to provide comments on WMATA’s Better Bus website.

Personal Climate Action: A

Carbon-Free Fairfax Webinar

Join Fairfax County’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC) on Tuesday, July 16, at 6:30 p.m. for “Personal Climate Action: A Carbon-Free Fairfax Webina r."

Learn about ways you can save money, reduce your carbon footprint, and adapt to changing conditions. The webinar will be livestreamed on Fairfax County’s YouTube channel as well as OEEC’s Facebook page. Learn more on OEEC's website.

Future Women Leaders in

Law Enforcement

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Apply for the Fairfax County Police Department's "Future Women Leaders in Law Enforcement." This week-long program explores careers for women in law enforcement.

Learn first-hand about core police functions such as patrol, helicopter, and crime scene investigation. Meet today's women leaders in law enforcement in Fairfax County. Explore what it takes to become a police officer and the skills you will learn in the police academy. Discover your potential to become the future women leaders in law enforcement.

The program runs from July 29 - August 2 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Apply online by July 22. For questions, contact Tanja Majca at (703) 246-3332 or CPA@fairfaxcounty.gov

Wakefield Tennis and Pickleball Redevelopment Project

The Fairfax County Park Authority held a virtual community meeting earlier this week to present a proposal to better accommodate both pickleball and tennis players at Wakefield Park, as well as receive comments and questions from the community.

To more fully benefit both the pickleball and tennis communities at Wakefield Park, the Park Authority is proposed replacing tennis court 11, presently in need of repair, with four dedicated pickleball courts and return courts 9 and 10 to tennis only. The work would result in a total of six dedicated pickleball courts and ten dedicated tennis courts at the site. It is anticipated that this work could be completed by Fall 2024.

A second phase of the proposal would add two more dedicated pickleball courts in place of one of the existing tennis practice wall areas. The tennis practice wall area closest to courts 9 and 10 would remain. This phase of the project would require additional site work, including building a retaining wall and relocating the picnic tables. It is estimated that it could potentially be completed by spring 2025.

A 30-day public comment period is happening now until August 8. Members of the community will be able to submit comments online through the comment form which will be hosted on the project website. You can view the presentation from the July 9 meeting and a recording on YouTube.

Wakefield Park is home to nine tennis courts, two dual-use courts (two tennis courts or four pickleball courts), and two dedicated pickleball courts. The Fairfax County Park Authority reports that, over time, the use of the dual-use courts has trended strongly towards pickleball and created fewer tennis opportunities.

Share Your Thoughts about the Fairfax Center Area Study

Fairfax County wants your input on the future of the Fairfax Center Area! Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts in their online poll.

The Fairfax Center Area Study is evaluating changes to the long-range land use plan for the 5,500-acre area between Route 50 and Route 29. The study will refine recommendations for the Fairfax Center Area’s Core, including the County’s Government Center, Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax Corner, and other commercial and residential developments, and focuses on creating a mixed-use, walkable, and vibrant community. The study will include a transportation analysis and consider updates to accommodate existing and future developments.

The Government Center visioning process is another critical component of this study. Developed nearly 40 years ago, the Government Center campus’ role and its surrounding area are being re-evaluated in light of modern needs and policies, including the Countywide Strategic Plan and the One Fairfax equity policy.

Community feedback is crucial to create a thriving, inclusive, and well-planned Fairfax Center Area. All who live, work, shop, recreate, or do business in the Fairfax Center area are encouraged to share their thoughts through the online poll, before it closes on Friday, July 26. The responses will help the study’s Task Force form recommendations for how the area can evolve in the years to come.

Click here to share your thoughts on the Fairfax Center Area. If you know someone with a connection to the Fairfax Center area, please share the poll with them and help us spread the word!

Ongoing updates and future engagement opportunities will be available on the project webpage. Updates will continue to be shared with subscribers of this Comprehensive Plan Amendment's e-mail list.

Nominations Open for the Friends of Trees Awards

The Fairfax County Tree Commission recently announced that nominations for its 2023-2024 Friends of Trees Awards are now open and will close on July 31.

Individuals and organizations may be nominated (or self-nominated) for various tree-related projects or programs that have demonstrated outstanding conservation-based actions to preserve, protect or plant trees. Developers who go “above and beyond” County requirements to preserve and protect trees and associated habitats are also eligible for this award.

A nominee must meet one or more of the following criteria:

Protect and preserve existing trees and associated habitats
Increase Fairfax County’s tree canopy and its related habitats
Educate and inspire people to plant more trees and properly maintain them
Convey an understanding of both the value and benefit of trees

The nomination categories include:

Individual volunteer
Non-profit group or business
For-profit company
Development Community

Winners will be announced in the fall of 2024. Please use the nomination form online.

Since 1999, the Friends of Trees awards have highlighted exceptional and innovative tree conservation actions in Fairfax County. For more information, visit the Tree Commission’s website. You can email questions about the awards to treecommission@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Heat Safety Tips

This summer, it is critical to be prepared and take the necessary precautions to stay safe in the heat.

Stay hydrated - drink plenty of water and avoid alcoholic or caffeinated beverages
Limit outdoor activities - take frequent breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas.
Dress Appropriately - Wear lightweight, light-colored, and loose-fitting clothing to help keep cool.
Check on elderly or vulnerable individuals who may be more susceptible to heat-related illnesses.
Never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles, as temperatures can quickly become dangerously hot inside.

Here are additional resources for heat tips, weather preparedness, and precautions for extreme heat:

Fairfax County Emergency Blog
Beat the Heat
Heat Safety Tips
Preparing for Extreme Heat This Summer
Center for Disease Control's Extreme Heat and Health Guide

When the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory, excessive heat watch, or excessive heat warning, the County activates its Extreme Heat Response Plan, which is geared towards protecting all members of our community.

County efforts include:

Offering space for residents to cool off in air-conditioned areas with water available along with other heat-related supplies.
Spaces available include all libraries, Rec Centers, community centers, and human services buildings during operating hours.
Deploying homeless services outreach staff to check on unsheltered residents and provide them with supplies.

Since last year, the County has doubled the amount of heat supplies and bus passes provided to homeless services providers. Supplies have been distributed and are available at the emergency shelters, consumer wellness/day support sites, and meal sites.

Subscribe to Fairfax Alerts for extreme weather alerts and warnings. The County has made it easier for unsheltered residents to sign up for Fairfax Alerts by texting 'FFXOPEH' to 888-777.

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