Community Notice from
Dranesville Supervisor John Foust
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Dear Neighbor,
On Monday, June 8, I will be participating in a virtual town hall hosted by Cornerstones. We will be discussing resilience and recovery during the coronavirus pandemic. Also on Monday, the Fairfax RISE grant application will open. More information on the town hall and Fairfax RISE below.
This email also includes a Fairfax County Park Authority Farmers Market update, information on staying alert to coronavirus-related scams, and guidance from Fairfax Water on what to do if you are reopening a commercial or residential property.
Please share this email with your friends and neighbors and do not hesitate to contact my office if we can be of assistance; email
Dranesville@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-356-0551.
Sincerely,
John
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Resiliency and Recovery: COVID-19
A Virtual Town Hall
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On Monday, June 8, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., join Cornerstones for an engaging conversation with Fairfax County officials about plans to help rebuild our community’s economic stability and ensure that our most vulnerable neighbors are connected to resources to regain their independence and security.
Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust, Hunter Mill Supervisor Walter Alcorn, and School Board Representatives Elaine Tholen (Dranesville) and Melanie Meren (Hunter Mill) will participate.
Conversation topics will include:
- Affordable Housing – Now More than Ever
- Extending Tenant Rights through Recovery
- Family Resiliency and Sustainability – After the Crisis
- Learning Loss and the Digital Divide
- Getting Back to Work and a Living Wage Economy
- Opportunity Fairfax and the COVID-19 Divide
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More FCPA Farmers Markets Set to Open
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Openings of the County’s 10 producer-only markets were delayed this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Market openings were phased as health conditions allowed and volunteers became available to serve at the markets.
Fresh fruits, vegetables, baked goods and more will soon be available at four additional Fairfax County Park Authority Farmers Markets.
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The additional markets will open and operate on the following schedule:
Oak Marr, 3200 Jermantown Road
June 10 – Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to noon
Annandale, 6621 Columbia Pike
June 11 – Thursdays from 8 a.m. to noon
McLean, 1659 Chain Bridge Road
June 12 – Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon
Kingstowne, 5870 Kingstowne Towne Center
June 19 – Fridays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
When possible, shoppers are encouraged to preorder their items directly from the local vendors. Visit the
Farmers Markets website and click on the
Vendor Preorder List for a list of all market vendors and their ordering policies. You can also click on an individual market for details on the vendors at that market and preordering instructions.
At the markets, customers are asked to comply with all COVID-19 safety procedures, including limiting shoppers to two persons per household, wearing facial coverings, and maintaining 6 feet of distance from others. There may be a waiting line, and there will be a one-way path through the markets.
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In May, the Board of Supervisors voted to create the Fairfax Relief Initiative to Support Employers (Fairfax RISE). The grant application will open at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, June 8 and close Monday, June 15 at 11:59 p.m.
The program’s primary purpose is to provide immediate relief to small businesses and nonprofits impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Fairfax County hopes to help small businesses and organizations remain in business through the COVID-19 emergency and address gaps that may exist among complementary programs.
Fairfax RISE will offer grants to qualified businesses or nonprofits that will not have to be repaid. It also specifically establishes a minimum allocation of 30% of the program’s total dollars — or $7.5 million — towards awards for minority–, veteran– and women-owned businesses. Minority-owned companies with employees account for 32% percent of businesses in Fairfax County, and collectively, all minority, women and veteran-owned businesses employ 80,000 people in the County with total annual revenues of $14.4 billion.
The amount of Fairfax RISE awards will be made based upon the number of full-time equivalent employees according to the following structure:
- 1 – 10 employees: $10,000
- 11 – 25 employees: $15,000
- 26 – 49 employees: $20,000
On Tuesday, June 9 at 11:00 a.m., the County's Department of Economic Initiatives (DEI) and its contractor will hold a Q&A webinar for interested parties to learn about Fairfax RISE. There will be a short presentation, then questions will be taken, via chat, from participants. The webinar information is below.
Date and time: Tuesday, June 9, 2020 11:00 am to 12:00 p.m.
Event number: 161 180 4501
Event password: 4p6yK8KdxXd
Via phone: 415-655-0003/Access code: 161 180 4501
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Beware of COVID-19 Contact Tracing and Government Employee Impersonation Scams
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As the coronavirus public health emergency continues, scammers are taking advantage of the situation. This includes selling products that supposedly will prevent, treat, or cure the virus, asking for donations to aid people who are sick, and contact tracing and government employee impersonation scams.
What is Contact Tracing?
Contact tracing is an important part of protecting the community’s health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Health Department’s contact tracers reach out to the contacts of sick individuals to let them know they may have been exposed to COVID-19. They will ask questions and provide guidance about how to take care of yourself and prevent others from getting sick.
If you are identified as a contact and receive a call from the Health Department, it is important to answer the phone, or listen to the voicemail and return the call if asked to do so.
The Health Department’s contact tracer will never ask for your Social Security number, financial or bank account information, passwords, or other personal information unrelated to COVID-19. They also will not ask for photographs or videos of any kind.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns that anyone who says they are a contact tracer, and then asks for this kind information, is running a scam.
Scammers pretending to be contact tracers are also sending people text messages that ask you to click on a link in the text. If you receive a text like this, do not take the bait! Clicking on the link will download software onto your device which will allow scammers access to your personal and financial information.
For more information on the Health Department’s contact tracing process, call 703-267-3511 or email
ffxcovid@fairfaxcounty.gov (inbox is monitored M-F, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.).
COVID-19 Government Impersonation Scams
Many of us are paying close attention to guidance from federal, state, and local governments during this COVID-19 health emergency. Unfortunately, scammers are also paying attention. Some are even pretending to be the government.
Say NO to anyone claiming to be from a government agency asking for cash, gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or information such as your Social Security, Medicare ID, driver’s license, bank account, or credit card numbers.
If you believe you have been the victim of a scam call the Fairfax County Police Non-Emergency Line at 703-691-2131, TTY 711. You can also contact the AARP Fraud Watch Network at 1-877-908-3360 or online at
www.aarp.org/scams.
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Guidance for Building Water System Flushing After Closures
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, some commercial or residential properties may have been left empty or were not at full occupancy for an extended period. As stay-at-home orders are lifted and plans are made to reoccupy these buildings, owners are encouraged to address the water quality of these locations.
When homes and businesses are returned to service after an extended period of discontinued service (e.g., one week or more), a thorough flushing process is needed to clean out water that may have been sitting dormant in the building’s plumbing. Stagnant water, for even as little as two days, can lead to low or undetectable levels of disinfectant, such as chlorine. Proper flushing can restore chlorine levels and ensure water quality for the premises.
Ensure that your water system is safe to use after a prolonged shutdown by conducting a flush of your commercial or residential property’s internal plumbing. Flushing instructions vary depending on the size and complexity of the structure and its plumbing. In any case, Fairfax Water encourages owners of commercial and residential properties to follow the guidance below when reoccupying a building.
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Fairfax County is closely monitoring the coronavirus situation. Residents are strongly encouraged to utilize the resources listed below:
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