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| Monthly Newsletter from Chairman Sharon Bulova |
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| Did You Know? |
Fairfax County Government has a Nonprofits and Places of Worship Coordinator who can help these organizations navigate the land development process. Learn more or call 703-324-1780.
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| Stay Connected |
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Email
Website
Office
(703) 324-2321
Please contact my office with any comments, questions, concerns or ideas.
I look forward to hearing from you.
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Greetings,
Last week I found myself apologizing to a spider. Spiders have always freaked me out. I think they are scary.
I had just begun my regular two mile jog/trot/walk through the wooded paths and country roads near
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This is not my spider. I found this guy on Reddit. My spider was much smaller and last seen diving under some vines on the path near my house! |
my house when I jogged face first into a spider web. I would have been upset except that I could see the spider. It was not in my hair or on my neck or face. It was near my feet, frantically trying to escape into the vegetation growing next to my path. Beside it was the complete wreckage of a formerly intricate web.
While brushing strands of the web off my arms and shirt, I inexplicably heard myself say, "I'm so sorry! You were probably working on that all night long." Not so long in human time but for a spider, a good chunk of its entire lifetime.
For the rest of my run, I thought about the spider and why running into this particular spider web had engendered sympathy instead of my usual abject terror. I decided it was because I could actually see the spider. It was not a threat to me. And, facing no threat, I could appreciate its web and the effort that must have gone into making it. I could even empathize with its terror of me, a much larger creature that could end its life with a casual stomp of my foot.
Fear of the unknown. Fear of the different. Fear of change. These reactions when experienced with our fellow human beings are often irrational, hurtful and destructive. We see this with racial and cultural differences within our community, even political divisions. Fear of the stranger, the other, is so often behind negative rhetoric and reactions involving immigration.
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I thought about all of this when reflecting on the County's recent (and hugely successful) Disability Inclusion Conference. The conference, co-hosted with The Arc of Northern Virginia, was designed to help build a bridge between the disability community and society to foster a more inclusive community where we all live and work together as One Fairfax.
Our keynote speaker, Fairfax County's very own Frank Stephens, put things in perspective by beginning his
remarks with a short scientific
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Frank Stephens - Actor, Author and Advocate
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explanation for why a person, like himself, is born with Down Syndrome. Frank's warm speech served to disarm and delight the entire audience of over 300 people. How brilliant, I thought. His words turned the "difference" in him, and others with developmental disabilities, into something that is understood and appreciated.
The conference included breakout sessions that focused on housing, inclusive public spaces, social opportunities, employment and public safety. My thanks to the Conference Planning Team, in particular my Communications Director, Lindsey Doane, Rachna Sizemore Heizer with SEPTA, Rikki Epstein and Lucy Beadnell with the Arc of Northern Virginia, Lori Stillman and Laura Allen with the Welcoming Inclusion Network (WIN) and many others! This team hit all the right notes for what I expect will become an annual event. You can watch the full video of the main event here. For a re-cap of the conference, we have a short video below:
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2019 Disability Inclusion Conference
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Training our One Fairfax lens on the issue of racial disparity, I am working with a small group of stakeholders to plan a series of discussions on race in our community. This Community Dialogue is meant to foster open and honest discussions on issues surrounding race, with an ultimate goal of engaging the community to help inform the County's application of the One Fairfax Policy. It is one thing to adopt a Resolution,
but to ensure opportunity for all, we must be able to understand the obstacles and impediments that are in the way of getting there.
Fairfax County is an awesome community. We are a place where our differences are not just tolerated, but appreciated and celebrated. We are One Fairfax.
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Sincerely,
Sharon Bulova
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
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| Fairfax County Fast Facts Video Series |
In my latest Fast Facts video, here are my
Top Ten Reasons why Fairfax County
is a great place to live, work, play, raise a family, and grow older in place. Whether you've lived here all your life, or recently moved to the area, there is something for everyone in our thriving community.
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| Huntington Levee Now Complete! |
Fairfax County celebrated the completion of its first levee on Saturday, June 15, 2019. The 2,800-foot levee is designed to protect the Huntington community from storms up to and including 100-year flooding events. The project, approved by the voters in a November 2012 bond referendum, received the Envision Bronze award from the Institute of Sustainable Infrastructure. Learn more.
The levee passed its first big test on Monday, lessening the widespread flooding that the Huntington community has previously had to endure.
While the levee helps mitigate flooding, it's also a good idea to stay informed and connected about major weather events in real time. Fairfax County's Fairfax Alerts system now has a "RiverWatch" alert that you can subscribe to in order to stay informed about flood concerns in the Huntington and Belleview neighborhoods. Visit
fairfaxcounty.gov/alerts
to subscribe.
The rain event we experienced this week was a historic downpour that flooded roads, streams and homes throughout Northern Virginia.
If you experienced any property damage from the intense amount of rain we had on Monday, I encourage you to
report your damage
to the county's Disaster Damage Database
.
Submitting
information
to this database is completely voluntary, but the damage reports may impact what kind of federal disaster assistance (if any) can be made available to county residents who suffered losses.
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| Measles 101 |
The following information is from InovaNewsroom and can be read in full here.
Important Reminders:
- If you are concerned that you or a loved one has been exposed to or has contracted measles, please stay home and call your pediatrician and local health department for further instructions.
- If you are experiencing serious symptoms and need urgent or immediate medical attention, please contact your preferred emergency department for further instructions. This will allow staff time to prepare for your arrival and take the necessary isolation precautions. Please do not go to a medical office or urgent care if you have been exposed to or have measles.
- Most of the people who have contracted measles were not vaccinated against the virus. This is a stark reminder of the importance of making sure you and your children are fully vaccinated.
What is measles and what are the symptoms?
Measles (also known as rubeola) is a very contagious respiratory infection.
While some may think of measles as a small rash and fever that clears up in a few days, it can cause serious health complications - especially in children younger than 5 years of age. For some children, measles can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis (irritation and swelling of the brain), deafness, dehydration and death. Symptoms can include:
- Fever
- Cough, usually dry
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Red, swollen eyes (conjunctivitis)
- White spots inside the mouth (Koplik's spots)
- A red, spotty rash that starts 3 - 5 days after other symptoms. It typically starts on the face and neck and then spreads to the chest, back and full body. The rash is typically flat but may appear to have larger raised areas. Spots can also often look grouped together.
- High fever (104 - 105) at the same time as the rash
How contagious is measles?
When you hear that measles is
VERY CONTAGIOUS, it is not an exaggeration. In fact, 9 out of 10 people who are not vaccinated for measles will get it if they are near an infected person.
Measles is spread through droplets being sprayed into the air when a person infected with the virus breathes, coughs or sneezes. You can contract measles from simply being in a room where an infected person has been, up to 2 hours after they leave.
An infected person can spread the measles to others even before knowing s/he has the virus-from 4 days before developing the measles rash to 4 days afterward.
Someone exposed to the virus usually develops symptoms 7 - 14 days later.
Who is at risk?
During an outbreak, those at highest risk include:
- Infants who aren't old enough to receive the vaccine
- Children under 5 years of age
- Pregnant women
- Individuals with poor nutrition or weakened immune systems
How can I protect my child from measles?
The only protection against measles is the MMR vaccine. The only way to stop the spread of measles is for people to vaccinate against it.
The MMR vaccine is a safe and effective way to prevent measles, mumps and rubella. No vaccine provides 100 percent protection, but adding the second dose of the MMR vaccine increases protection to greater than 95 percent.
Like medications, vaccines can have side effects. Most children do not experience side effects from the MMR vaccine, however they can include: fever, rash, soreness and swelling where the vaccine was administered and temporary pain or stiffness in the joints.
How do you treat measles?
Measles is caused by a virus, so there is no specific medical treatment for it. To help manage symptoms:
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Encourage extra rest
- Give Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin (Advil/ibuprofen) to reduce fever and discomfort. Monitor your child closely and contact pediatrician if you have any questions or concerns.
An injection of measles antibodies (called immune globulin) can be administered to at-risk people who are exposed to measles. It's most effective when given within 6 days of exposure.
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| Summer STEM Opportunities for Kids! |
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| Farewell to Clayton Medford! |
In some office-related news, my long time aide and Chief of Staff Clayton Medford is moving on. Starting on July 15, Clayton will be the Vice President of Government Affairs at the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce. Clayton has been with my office since 2010 and was the Communications Director and Policy Director prior to taking the Chief of Staff position about 6 years ago. Clayton was the lead administrative support and my liaison for many important projects like the Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission, the Community Council on Land Use Engagement, and the Private Sector Energy Task Force. He was also the organizer for my
Evolution event series in 2012-2014. He's covered just about every topic in the office while being our day-to-day manager and facilitator of my constituent correspondence. He's helped hire and train many talented young professionals during his time in my office, as well. He's also been my part-time driver, editor, sounding board, and IT technician. Clayton will be greatly missed and the Chamber has a real asset in him.
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| Farewell to Lindsey Doane! |
Lindsey Doane, my Communications Director since 2014, will soon be the new Digital Communications Manager at Kettler, o
ne of the nation's top multifamily developers and property managers. During her time in my office, Lindsey has written over 60 Bulova Bylines as well as numerous sets of carefully crafted talking points, speeches, op-eds, articles, press releases and video scripts. As my head of media relations, Lindsey has maintained positive relationships with our local and regional reporters and has helped me prepare for countless media events. Lindsey supported me in launching numerous successful initiatives including the Design & Environmental Achievement Awards, the Immigration Forum with Telemundo Washington DC, the Disability Inclusion Conference, my social media-friendly State of the County videos, my Nextdoor and Instagram accounts, and Fairfax County's animated Fast Facts Video Series.
As my in-house photographer, web and social media manager, and part-time chauffeur navigating the streets of the D.C. Metropolitan Region, Lindsey has been a motivated and valuable member of my Chairman's Team.
As Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of OAR Nova and Board Member of the Providence Players of Fairfax, Lindsey looks forward to staying involved and continuing to give back in Fairfax County. And with her new job in Tysons, she won't be going far!
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| Evenings on the Ellipse 2019 |
The Fairfax County Park Authority will host free concerts in the backyard of the Fairfax County Government Center every Thursday night this summer (July 11 - August 29, 2019) from 5:30pm - 7pm. The Evenings on the Ellipse summer concert series is a family-friendly event featuring a talented line-up of performers and a wide range of musical genres. Fairfax County's two wineries, Paradise Springs Winery and The Winery at Bull Run, will be providing generous tastings and sales of their premium reds and whites. If it rains, the concert will be moved inside to the Fairfax County Government Center Forum.
Evenings on the Ellipse is a great way for nearby residents and county employees to relax and unwind after work in Wolf Trap-esque style. With great music, a beautiful venue and complimentary wine tastings, I am proud to have the Fairfax County Government Center play host to such a special summer experience.
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