Sept. 22, 2021
Neighbors,
News about climate change is everywhere and can seem overwhelming to many of us. There is so much that needs to be done, but as we have heard from many sources, each small change can add to making a big difference. To give you some ideas of things that you and your family can do, the Hunter Mill District staff is sharing some of our "easy to do" tips to help ourselves and the environment:
-
Walter – I am lucky to live within a couple miles of my office at the North County Governmental Center, so whenever possible I leave my car at home and walk to the office. And it's good for my health!
-
Paul – To cut down on plastic use, my family has moved to using reusable sandwich bags.
-
Gwenn – I maximize use of natural light as much as possible and minimize use of electric lighting by keeping window blinds/shades/drapes open as long as possible during each day.
-
Lisa – I recently switched to using cloth napkins instead of paper for every meal, instead of saving them for nice dinners or special occasions. They are easy to throw in the laundry.
-
Shyamali – I carry bamboo utensils with me to avoid using plasticware when I'm out. I also use bamboo toothbrushes. While plastic never leaves our environment, bamboo toothbrushes are sustainable and have a lower impact on the environment.
-
Amanda – Our family brings a trash bag with us when we walk along our local trails – it’s amazing how quickly it fills with bottle, cans, and a surprising assortment of discarded items.
-
Jose – We compost coffee grounds in our backyard garden, as well as some other food waste such as orange or banana peels.
- Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to power a TV for 3 hours. Recycling one plastic bottle can save enough energy to power a 60W bulb for 6 hours.
- Switch from paper towels to reusable microfiber cloths. Each year, Americans spend about $5.7 billion on paper towels, buying more than 13 million pounds of them. This amounts to more than 3,000 tons of waste annually.
- The majority of energy used by washing machines goes to heating water. Using warm water instead of hot can cut energy use in half. Using cold water with a cold-water detergent can mean even greater savings.
Do you have some "easy to do" tips to help the environment and fight climate change that we can share in a future newsletter? Email your favorite to huntermill@fairfaxcounty.gov and use subject line "Tip to Save the Earth"
As noted in last week's newsletter, the county and Board of Supervisors has committed to taking big steps to achieve carbon neutrality and reduce greenhouse emissions. It is critical that we move quickly and do our part in Fairfax County and become a model for other jurisdictions to follow. I encourage you to take a look at the Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan (CECAP).
If you are looking for more inspiration – tonight (Sept. 22), The Washington Post reports that the late night show hosts have coordinated an effort to discuss climate change and the environment on all their shows.
Respectfully,
Walter
|
|
COVID-19 Updates (Sept. 22) |
|
Review recommendations from the Health Department for both vaccinated and unvaccinated residents.
Sept. 21 Update to the Board of Supervisors
Dr. Gloria Addo-Ayensu, director of health, and her Health Department team provided an update on COVID-19 vaccinations to the Board of Supervisors yesterday at the Health and Human Services Committee meeting. Learn more.
QR Codes Now Available to Digitally Verify COVID-19 Vaccination Status
As requests for proof of COVID-19 vaccination by businesses and employers increases, the Virginia Department of Health announced that QR (quick response) codes are now available. Virginia is the fifth U.S. state to adopt the SMART Health format for QR codes, empowering individuals with trustworthy and verifiable copies of their vaccination records in digital or paper form. Learn more.
Health Department Deploys Mobile COVID-19 Testing Lab
The Health Department is deploying its mobile laboratory to provide COVID-19 testing in several locations. These mobile testing opportunities are for individuals who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or who may have been exposed to COVID-19. Dates, times and locations of sites are posted on the Health Department’s COVID-19 Testing page, and based on demand and resources. Learn more.
Health Department to Expedite Communications for Students Awaiting COVID-19 Contact Interviews
Last week, the Health Department began implementing an email communication option to expedite contact with students who have been exposed to COVID-19 but have not yet heard from Health Department staff. Learn more.
Weekly COVID-19 Case/Vaccine Information Chart:
|
|
Data resources:
Current Number of Cases in the Fairfax Health District
-
Daily reported case information for the Fairfax Health District: here
-
Daily reported case information throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia: here
|
|
Board of Supervisors Update |
|
The Board of Supervisors held a full day of committee meetings yesterday, Sept. 21. You can review the presentations below and watch videos of the meetings here:
You can check on upcoming committee meetings, as well as full Board meetings here.
|
|
Sunset Hills Rd. Drainage Improvement Project Town Hall, Oct. 4, 7 p.m. |
|
Residents are invited to attend a briefing on the Sunset Hills Road Drainage Improvement Project from the county's Department of Public Works and Environmental Services. Join the virtual meeting with this WebEx link. To listen to the meeting, dial 1-844-621-3956 and use access code: 2335 570 0138. You can also watch a live stream of the meeting on YouTube Live.
|
|
Land Use and Transportation |
|
Community Input Virtual Meetings Sept. 30 and Oct. 7 for Proposed Fairfax Connector Bus Service in Centreville, Chantilly, Vienna and Tysons
Fairfax County's Department of Transportation (FCDOT) is seeking community input on a proposed plan for bus service provided by Fairfax Connector in the Centreville, Chantilly, Vienna, Tysons (CCVT) and neighboring areas, such as McLean and West Falls Church. After a previous round of community engagement, FCDOT has developed a preferred plan for improved Fairfax Connector bus service in the CCVT areas. The plan aims to improve on-time performance and streamline service to meet the needs of the community and commuters. Learn more.
Reston Comprehensive Plan Study Task Force Meetings
The Reston Comprehensive Plan Study Task Force has meetings scheduled through October. Information on watching the upcoming meetings is below. To learn more about the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study and the task force, visit the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study webpage. Meeting details and agendas will be found here. You can watch live streams of the meetings on YouTube Live, as well as the video archive of all past task force meetings.
-
Monday, Sept. 27, 7 p.m. Use this link to attend and participate in the meeting. You will be prompted to register with your email address and ZIP code before logging into meeting. If you prefer to listen to the meeting on your phone, you may call 1-844-621-3956 and use access code: 179642 4537. This is also the number to use if accessing TTY 711.
-
Monday, Oct. 11, 7 p.m. Use this link to attend and participate in the meeting. You will be prompted to register with your email address and ZIP code before logging into meeting. If you prefer to listen to the meeting on your phone, you may call 1-844-621-3956 and use access code: 2340 698 2654. This is also the number to use if accessing TTY 711.
-
Monday, Oct. 25, 7 p.m. Use this link to attend and participate in the meeting. You will be prompted to register with your email address and ZIP code before logging into meeting. If you prefer to listen to the meeting on your phone, you may call 1-844-621-3956 and use access code: 2340 507 1775. This is also the number to use if accessing TTY 711.
|
|
You Are Invited to Oct. 16 Renaming Ceremony
at Southgate Community Center
|
|
Oktoberfest is Back on Oct. 2
Oktoberfest returns to historic Church Street on Saturday, Oct. 2. Enjoy live entertainment on three stages, family-friendly activities on the Town Green, multinational food vendors on Mill Street, a beer/wine/German food garden and more. All ages are welcome, and admission is free. Oktoberfest is presented by the Vienna Business Association in partnership with the Town of Vienna. For event details, visit www.viennaoktoberfest.org.
Bird E-Scooters Roll into Town of Vienna
Bird e-scooters are now operational in the Town of Vienna, and the company is supplying 25 to 50 of the rentable shared mobility devices (SMDs) at designated Town locations. Bird is the first company to be approved to operate e-scooters in the Town and operates in other locations in Fairfax County and Hunter Mill District, including Reston.
|
|
Reston Multicultural Festival This Saturday, Sept. 25
The annual Reston Multicultural Festival is this Saturday, Sept. 25 at Lake Anne Plaza, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. This signature Reston event honors our community’s diversity and brings to life an important part of the community vision of Reston founder Robert E. Simon. Stop by the Hunter Mill District table and say hello! Learn more.
Ash Grove in Vienna: Applications Open for Resident Curator
The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is accepting applications for the rehabilitation and long-term maintenance of Ash Grove, located at 8881 Ashgrove House Lane in Vienna. Learn more.
Nominations for Disability Inclusion and Equality Awards Due By Oct. 15
Do you know an individual or organization that excels in providing equal rights and community inclusion for people with disabilities in the county? You can nominate them for the Fairfax Area Disability Services Board’s 2021 Martha Glennan Disability Inclusion and Equality Award. Award winners are honored for demonstrating a commitment to promoting equal rights and community inclusion for people with disabilities and are recognized at an annual awards ceremony in December. There are three award categories: Individual, Group and Self-advocate. Learn more.
County to Host Fairfax Peak Informational Open House Sept. 25
Fairfax County will host a community information and outreach meeting at the Workhouse Arts Center on Sept. 25 for community members to learn more about the Fairfax Peak private developer proposal at the I-95 Landfill. Fairfax County and Alpine X will have a tent at the Workhouse Community Market Day where attendees can stop by to learn about the proposed project. Visual displays of the project and QR codes for more info will be provided. (This is a zero-waste event – no paper collateral will be distributed). Learn more.
Fairfax NAACP Virtual Career Fair Saturday Sept. 26, Noon to 3 p.m.
Register for Virtual Caregivers Conference Nov. 9-11
The Northern Virginia Dementia Care Consortium has been educating caregivers since 1986. The 2021 conference will focus on the theme “Caregiving as Memories Fade.” Become better prepared to provide care and support at home or in a facility, learn new ways to engage individuals with dementia, and exploring supportive services in the virtual exhibit hall. Conference sessions will take place virtually each day November 9-11. This conference is open to family caregivers, volunteers working with older adults, and professionals in aging and related services. To learn more and register, go to https://nvdcc.com/ or for more information about the conference, call 703-270-0043.
|
|
Stay Informed and In Touch |
|
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn
703-478-0283, TTY 711
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
