Tomorrow evening the Virginia Department of Health will be hosting a virtual town hall on the COVID-19 vaccine. Details about the meeting are included below.

This email also includes information on the Commonwealth of Virginia’s COVID-19 Municipal Utility Relief Program application deadline coming up on December 30, a reminder about the Fairfax County Park Authority's virtual public meeting on Thursday, and information on 5 new free videos from the Safe Community Coalition as part of their Managing the Moments initiative.

The region may see some wintery weather tomorrow, and hopefully you saw my notice earlier about the NWS Winter Storm Watch, information from VDOT, and helpful resources here.

Fairfax County Government offices officially close at noon on Thursday, Dec. 24, and will be closed all day on Friday, December 25, for the Christmas holiday. Offices will also be closed on Friday, January 1, for the New Year’s holiday. However, some facilities are open and schedules may vary, particularly as some offices continue to feature reduced hours in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Fairfax County Government also provides many essential services online, by phone and by mail. For specific schedule information, please see our operating status page or the Christmas and New Years Holiday Schedule page.

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

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) will host “Virginia’s COVID-19 Vaccine Town Hall” on Wednesday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m. The virtual town hall will be hosted by WRIC-TV and VDH, and livestreamed on several channels across the Commonwealth. A team of community and medical professionals will answer your questions about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Drinking water and wastewater utilities provide a critical service to the community, especially during a pandemic. To provide financial relief for customers in need, Fairfax Water is working with Fairfax County, the City of Falls Church and the City of Fairfax to administer funds received from the Commonwealth of Virginia’s COVID-19 Municipal Utility Relief Program.

Customers will need to apply for this relief program. To qualify, you must meet certain eligibility requirements, attest that you are experiencing financial hardship due to the coronavirus public health emergency, and submit an application to Fairfax Water no later than December 30, 2020.

The COVID-19 Municipal Utility Relief funds provided by the Commonwealth are not expected to be sufficient for all customers whose accounts are past due. These funds will be administered in accordance with the requirements of the Commonwealth. An application is available on Fairfax Water’s website here.

For additional assistance, call Fairfax Water’s customer service department to discuss payment options. The call center is available weekdays, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. at 703-698-5800, TTY 711.

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) will host a public meeting to discuss the planning process and potential revisions to the Clemyjontri Park Master Plan.

Clemyjontri Park and its vision were made possible through the generosity of benefactor Adele Lebowitz and the Lebowitz family, who donated the property to the Park Authority in 2000 with the desire to provide a comprehensive play experience for all children in a barrier-free setting.

MPA envisions an all-inclusive art center, which provides a creative respite for the community that is integrated into, yet distinct from, Clemyjontri Park. The center could potentially exhibit the work of contemporary artists, offer arts instruction and classroom space, and include public artwork in the park. ​No changes to the park’s playground or other recreational amenities are planned.

The meeting will feature a presentation about the site’s current conditions and proposed arts center concept. Following the presentation, the meeting will continue with a moderated public discussion to allow for questions. Comments or questions may also be submitted after the meeting via email at parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

To view the 2002 planning documents and maps, more information about Clemyjontri Park, and to sign up for email updates on this project go to the Clemyjontri Park Master Plan Revision website here.

The Safe Community Coalition (SCC) has created 5 NEW free videos as part of their Managing the Moments initiative just in time for the holidays and beyond.

Five New Managing the Moments Videos Just in Time for the Holidays

These short videos are produced by the psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers of the SCC’s mental health committee. Topics selected reflect what they are seeing both in their private practices and on the homefront. 

The new videos include:

These new videos join the original six videos: Deescalating Conflict, Effective Communication, How to Talk to Your Parents, Brain Breaks During Distance Learning, Self-Care and Calming Techniques, and How Are You?

All videos and accompanying tip sheets are free and available on the SCC website, mcleanscc.org. Make sure to bookmark the page and watch any time!

Fairfax County is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation. Residents are strongly encouraged to utilize the resources listed below: