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Friday, February 9th, 2024
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In February we celebrate Black History Month. We honor and pay tribute to the incredible resilience, contributions, and achievements of African American individuals throughout history. The County is hosting a variety of events throughout February to help us celebrate African American history and culture. If you are interested in learning more or attending one of the events, click here. | |
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If you have any questions or concerns, please contact my office.
Email: Franconia@fairfaxcounty.gov
Phone 703-971-6262
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- Stuff the Bus!
- Fireplace Safety
- How to Manually Shut Off Your Home's Water Supply
- Ignite Mural Magic by Applying to Join "Paint it, Fairfax!"
- Plant NOVA Natives
- ECHO - Food Donations Needed
- Free Tax Preparation Help Available Until April 15
- Free Books at Lorton Community Center
- RPSV Winter Gear Drive
- Creative Ways to Celebrate Valentine's Day
Out and About
- Franconia District Open House
- Springfield Art Guild Exhibit
ICYMI
- Early Voting for Presidential Primary Elections Now Open!
- Hypothermia Prevention Program Info
- THRIVE Program
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Stuff the Bus!
This collaborative program is a partnership between Fairfax County Government and local nonprofits. Now in its 13th year, Stuff the Bus continues to support food assistance efforts for families and households. Since inception, Stuff the Bus has collected more than 220 tons of food to feed people experiencing food insecurity in Fairfax County.
The Winter 2024 Stuff the Bus in-person food drive runs from January 13 - March 2.
On Saturday, February 17th, there will be two locations in Franconia District, one at the Cardinal Forest Giant and one at the Springfield Plaza Giant. Please stop by either of the Giants and help support local non-profits ECHO and Koinonia.
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Fireplace Safety
Do you have a fireplace at home? Here are a couple of tips to enjoy your fireplace in a safe manner.
- Use the Right Fireplace Materials
- Have Your Chimney Professionally Inspected Annually
- Perform Proper Fireplace Maintenance
- Practice Safe Fireplace Habits
- Monitor the Fire Closely
- Properly Dispose of Ashes
Click here for more information.
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How to Manually Shut Off Your Home's Water Supply
In certain emergency situations like burst pipes or oncoming floods, you may need to quickly shut off the main water supply to your home. Being able to manually close the external shut-off valve prevents extensive water damage to your house.
Shutting the main valve prevents flooding and limits damage to just the burst pipe location. And in a water contamination event or oncoming flood, shutting off the supply protects your home’s interior and possessions. Click here for more information.
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Ignite Mural Magic by Applying to Join "Paint it, Fairfax!"
Fairfax County is looking for artists who can contribute their creative flair to the community and we invite you to join the debut mural program, "Paint It, Fairfax!". This initiative is geared towards building a pool of talented artists eager to participate in transforming Commercial Revitalization Districts and Areas (CRDs/CRAs), such as Annandale, Lake Anne and Springfield, through community-focused public art.
Learn more about the program here!
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Plant NOVA Natives
Spanish-speaking landscape professionals
Can you help spread the word? Our second annual native plant conference held entirely in Spanish for landscape professionals will take place on March 8 at the Fairfax County Government Center. Click here to find a flier to print as well as details and registration.
The Magic of Winter Trees: Making a Deeper Connection
Winter is a lovely time to get to know your trees better. Many folks spend some of the colder days of January and February planning their spring gardens, winter sowing, or putting in nursery orders for spring delivery of native plants. Dreams of warmer days are lovely, but if you have trees in your yard or a nearby park, winter might also be the time to learn how to appreciate and protect their incredible beauty. Click here to read the full article.
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ECHO - Food Donations Needed
While the demand for food assistance has increased, supplies and donations have not. You can help make a direct impact by supporting those in our community who are in need of food and making a donation. Please visit ECHO on any of the times below to make a donation.
Donation hours -- M, T, W, Th, F - 9:30am to 12:30pm and T, W, Th - 7:00 to 9:00pm at 7205 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, VA 22150
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Free Tax Preparation Help Available Until April 15
Tax season is officially underway — and so too is free tax preparation assistance by the AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide program.
Fairfax County is partnering with the nonprofit to provide eight county facilities where residents can get no-cost help filling out their federal and state taxes through April 15.
Tax-Aide volunteers are trained and IRS-certified every year, according to AARP. At every location, volunteers can help you prepare your federal and Virginia state tax returns, and some locations can also assist you with District of Columbia and Maryland taxes. For more information click here!
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Free Books at Lorton Community Center
The Lorton Community Center, in collaboration with our wonderful partners, will be distributing 40,000 free books, not only to families but also to educators. This fantastic event will take place at the Lorton Community Center on Saturday, February 10th, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. For more details, please refer to the attached flyers available in both English and Spanish.
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RPSV Winter Gear Drive
Recovery Program Solutions of Virginia's South County Recovery and Drop-In Center is hosting a Winter Gear Drive for the Homeless at this time. New and gently used winter clothing is welcome and is urgently needed as the temperatures have dropped to such dangerous levels.
Additionally, they are seeking tarps, waterproof tents, sleeping bags, and waterproof rolling backpacks for the homeless as well. Donations can be dropped off at our center at 8794 S. Sacramento Drive in Alexandria (in the Plaza with the Planet Fitness) between 3-7 p.m. on Monday and Friday and 12-7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, please call Gary at the center at (7030 341-6890).
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Thank you to everyone who had the chance to join me at my annual Open House last month. A great number of Franconia residents showed up to meet with my staff and myself. I had a great time reconnecting with folks and meeting new residents. My office is always available if you have a concern or issue. Please feel free to reach out.
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I also want to congratulate the winners of the People's Choice Awards at our Open House. The Springfield Art Guild Art Exhibit will be at the Franconia Government Center until March 8th. Stop by to see the amazing work on display. | |
People's Choice Winner's
1st Place:
Cynthia Schoeppel, "Autumn Mandela"
2nd Place:
Lydia Jehorek, "Baby Steps"
Elaine Sevy, "Beauty in the Mist"
3rd Place:
Courtney Clark, "Amaryllis"
Susan Fay, "Spring Softly"
Pat Hafkemeyer, "Chilly Chickadee"
Chris Pankow, "Symmetrees 4"
Deidre Pistochini, "Purple Orchids"
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Early Voting for Presidental Primary Elections are now open!
Early voting for the Presidental primaries has started at three locations in Fairfax County! There is a primary for the Republican and Democratic candidates for president. In Virginia, voters do not register by political party, and you may only cast a ballot in one of the presidential primary elections.
You may go to any of the three locations below to cast your early vote until March 2nd.
Additional sites will open on February 24th.
For questions or more information, contact the Fairfax County Office of Elections at 703-222-0776, TTY 711, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.
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If you see someone who is unsheltered and you think is at risk for hypothermia, call 703-691-2131 TTY 711. This is the non-emergency police number. A police officer will respond and conduct a wellness check.
Learn more here.
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Thrive - Introducing the THRIVE Program, an initiative designed to fuel your growth.
If you've been in business since 2021 or earlier and have 49 or fewer employees, this is your chance. THRIVE will offer 600 businesses up to $10,000 in specialized consulting across key areas like digital marketing, operations, and financial planning.
Visit here for eligibility and to apply now!
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Thank you for the opportunity to serve. | |
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Rodney L. Lusk
Franconia District Supervisor
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